Anatomical note. Grooves on the free edge of the dorsum sellae

The majority of 90 human cadavers exhibited grooves on the free edge of the dorsum sellae formed by the posterior communicating arteries. In a few cases, the grooves were formed by the oculomotor nerves and still more rarely by the internal carotid arteries and the optic tracts. Such an irregular, grooved dorsum sellae may be mistaken for pathological erosion in radiographic examination. These arteries and nerves can be damaged during brainstem or occipital herniation through the foramen magnum and may also be compressed by suprasellar tumours more effectively.