[Plea for a unifying concept of the cavernous sinus and the trigeminal cavity]

The object of this study is a scientific research in human and compared anatomy of the cavernous sinus and Meckel's cave. The observations made in the foetus and human adult are compared to these made in non human primates and domestic mammals, the cavernous sinus and the Meckel's cave contribute to realize a entirety that we call "a morphological and functional anatomical system". The human cavernous sinus and Meckel's cave are described as an indissociable parasellar space representing a heavy traffic area for vascular and nervous structures. In the human and non human primates, the authors observe a parasellar space which agreed with the concept of "trigeminal-cavernous anatomical system". In the cat, the same observations are made and an osseous outline closing the roof of the parasellar space is observed; this is the evidence of a more ancient osseous or cartilaginous wall. The authors demonstrate in the last part of this study that the morphogenesis of this trigeminal-cavernous system is in relation with the phylogenic development of its morphological and functional environment, that we call the "externation". This study is of interest: to a best understanding of the tumors involving the cavernous sinus, to a semantic point of view: an attempt to a review of the terminology applied to the cavernous sinus and Meckel's cave.