FIG. 15 in Transverse Canal Foramen And Pericarotid Venous Network In Metatheria And Other Mammals

FIG. 15. Dromiciops gliroides MACN Ma-23607 (Microbiotheriidae, Microbiotheria), near-adult specimen, endocast reconstruction showing osteological features associated with pericarotid venous network and related vasculature (data source, table 2; color key, fig. 4). Skull is slightly damaged (e.g., left carotid canal). Views: A, ventral; B, same, with transverse basisphenoid sinus superimposed; C, oblique right lateral; D, horizontal segment through mesocranium; and E, ventral surface, intact caudal cranium. In C, sulcus for sigmoid sinus shallow and discontinuous; if internal jugular vein functionally present in adult, vessel probably small. In D, fingerlike projection from carotid canal leads to caudal branch foramen; transverse canals are continuous with transverse basicranial sinus, and rostral branches run through large compound space (cf. fig. 17A). Key: aptc, anterior pterygoid canal (=?anterior pterygoid foramen of Beck et al., 2023: char. 50); astp, tympanic process of alisphenoid; ats, sulcus for auditory tube; BO, basioccipital; cbf, caudal branch foramen; cc, carotid canal; ccs, sulcus leading to carotid canal; cchc, caudal condylohypoglossal canal; co, cochlea; ctbs, caudal portion of transverse basicranial sinus; etbs, eminence of transverse basisphenoid sinus; evpf, extracranial continuation of ventral petrosal sinus; hpf, hypophyseal fossa; jf, jugular foramen; le, lateral extension of transverse basisphenoid sinus; onvs, sulcus for ophthalmic neurovascular array; PAS, parasphenoid; PE, petrosal; pglf, postglenoid foramen; ptpf, pterygopalatine fissure; rbtc, rostral branch of transverse canal; rchc, rostral condylohypoglossal foramen; rtbs, rostral portion of transverse basicranial sinus; smf, suprameatal foramen; sss, sulcus for sigmoid sinus; tbs, transverse basicranial sinus; tcf, transverse canal foramen; tmc, tympanic cavity; tpss, sulcus for temporal sinus; vpss, sulcus for ventral petrosal sinus.