Dorello Canal

Last edit by Alaric Steinmetz on

Synonyms: Dorello canal

Dorello's canal is a short, arched dural enclosure at the clivus.

Anatomy

Dorello's canal surrounds the abducens nerve and partially the inferior petrosal sinus before the abducens nerve enters the cavernous sinus.

Anatomical Measurements

Dorello's canal has a diameter of 1.5 ± 0.8 mm and a length of 9.2 ± 2.2 mm[^1].

Anatomical Boundaries

Cranially, Dorello's canal is bounded by the sphenopetrosal ligament.

Illustration

Dorello Canal
Illustration of the Dorello canal. Figure adapted from Umansky et al.

Imaging

Abducens nerve and dorello canal
Visualization of the abducens nerve (CN VI) and the Dorello canal in axial T2 imaging.