Danger triangle of the face

<h2 id="infection-of-cavernous-sinus">Infection of cavernous sinus</h2>
<p class="note">See also: <a href="/facts/Cavernous_sinus_thrombosis/YkV5QsYu">Cavernous sinus thrombosis</a></p>
<p>If the <a href="/facts/Cavernous_sinus/fn8CHXxX">cavernous sinus</a> is infected, it can cause the blood within the sinus to <a href="/facts/Coagulation/vnfEevM0">clot</a>, resulting in a <a href="/facts/Cavernous_sinus_thrombosis/YkV5QsYu">cavernous sinus thrombosis</a>. This affects the structures that are going through it or surround it. Inside the cavernous sinus, constriction of the following cranial nerves (CN) can be found: CN III (<a href="/facts/Oculomotor_nerve/eu6TGIoI">oculomotor nerve</a>), CN IV (<a href="/facts/Trochlear_nerve/nWA4tb8y">trochlear nerve</a>), CN VI (<a href="/facts/Abducens_nerve/xp8KDQYr">abducens nerve</a>), CN V (<a href="/facts/Trigeminal_nerve/YoF0qNoG">trigeminal nerve</a>), specifically V1 (<a href="/facts/Ophthalmic_nerve/9NtP63dF">ophthalmic nerve</a>) and V2 (<a href="/facts/Maxillary_nerve/oCzztzr2">maxillary nerve</a>) branches. Failure of each of the nerves listed above will manifest in loss of function of the specific muscle, gland, or parasympathetic innervations (from CN III). In addition, it is possible that inflammation of the cavernous sinus will result in compression of the <a href="/facts/Optic_chiasm/PkFVgQfE">optic chiasm</a> (resulting in vision problems) and/or the <a href="/facts/Pituitary_gland/gdrQyldF">pituitary gland</a>.
</p><p>Failure of CN III will result in loss of function of the following muscles: <a href="/facts/Medial_rectus/0KH71Lrw">medial rectus</a>, <a href="/facts/Superior_rectus/N2CdGxsU">superior rectus</a>, <a href="/facts/Inferior_rectus/c6VRrJzu">inferior rectus</a>, and <a href="/facts/Inferior_oblique/oAwwDJyj">inferior oblique</a>, as well as muscles that are responsible for opening the eyelid: the <a href="/facts/Levator_palpebrae_superioris_muscle/cHj5Mgx7">levator palpebrae superioris muscle</a> and the <a href="/facts/Superior_tarsal_muscle/YnVrkNMb">superior tarsal muscle</a> (Müller's muscle). CN III damage also results in loss of parasympathetic innervation of the eye (loss of pupillary constriction and lens accommodation).
</p>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160303184440/http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Cavernous-sinus-thrombosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx?url=Pages/what-is-it.aspx">"Cavernous sinus thrombosis: Introduction"</a>. <a href="/facts/National_Health_Service/lTzheqYw">National Health Service</a>. 10 February 2006. Archived from <a href="http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Cavernous-sinus-thrombosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx?url=Pages/what-is-it.aspx">the original</a> on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2009.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.drpaulose.com/ear/ent-pediatric-children/nasal-abscess-in-danger-area-of-face">"Nasal Abscess in Danger Area of Face"</a>. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2011.</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Hom, Milton M.; Bielory, Leonard (1 January 2013). "The anatomical and functional relationship between allergic conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis". Allergy & Rhinology. 4 (3): 110–119. doi:10.2500/ar.2013.4.0067. PMC 3911799. PMID 24498515. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3911799" target="_blank">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3911799</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Hollinshead WH (1968). Anatomy for Surgeons: Volume 1 The Head and Neck. New York: Harper & Row. ISBN 9780061412646. <a href="9780061412646" target="_blank">9780061412646</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>Osborn AG (January 1981). "Craniofacial Venous Plexuses: Angiographic Study". American Journal of Roentgenology. 136 (1): 139–143. doi:10.2214/ajr.136.1.139. PMID 6779561. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Zhang J, Stringer MD (July 2010). "Ophthalmic and facial veins are not valveless". Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology. 38 (5): 502–510. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9071.2010.02325.x. PMID 20491800. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1442-9071.2010.02325.x" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1442-9071.2010.02325.x</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>Ludlow H (October 1852). "On carbuncular inflammation of lips and other parts of face". Med. Times. 5: 287–290. <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>Maes U (July 1937). "Infections of the Dangerous Areas of the Face". Annals of Surgery. 106 (1): 1–10. doi:10.1097/00000658-193707000-00002. PMC 1390530. PMID 17857007. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1390530" target="_blank">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1390530</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>Okamoto H, Ogata A, Kosugi M, Takashima H, Sakata S, Matsushima T (2012). "Cavernous sinus thrombophlebitis related to dental infection – two case reports". Neurologia Medico-Chirurgica. 52 (10): 757–760. doi:10.2176/nmc.52.757. PMID 23095272. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2176%2Fnmc.52.757" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.2176%2Fnmc.52.757</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:8"><p>Bhatia K, Jones NS (September 2002). "Septic cavernous sinus thrombosis secondary to sinusitis: are anticoagulants indicated? A review of the literature". The Journal of Laryngology & Otology. 116 (9): 667–676. doi:10.1258/002221502760237920. PMID 12437798. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Danger triangle of the face open-in-new

Danger triangle of the face