The clinical significance of the petroclinoid ligament

Abstract

This report describes the topography and structure of the petroclinoid ligament with reference to its clinical significance. Observations of this ligament were performed on 24 sections of human heads. Remnants of the ossified form of this ligament were sought in 73 dry human skulls. It was found that the petroclinoid ligament existed as an anterior and posterior fold of the dura mater and stretched from the petrous apex and the anterior and posterior clinoid process respectively. We assessed the close proximity of this ligament to the oculomotor nerve. In one case we found a partially ossified posterior petroclinoid ligament, which appeared as a bony spike that arose posteriorly and inferiorly from the posterior clinoid process.