Dorello’s canal is an osteofibrous canal crossed by the abducens nerve on its way into the cavernous sinus, relating to the petrosphenoidal ligament (PSL) and petrolingual ligament (PLL). This canal is part of the petroclival region, and can thus be affected in traumatic, tumor or vascular pathologies. The present work aims to study the variability of the relationships of the abducens nerve as it travels through Dorello’s canal. This study used thirty hemiheads without brain, fixed in formaldehyde. The dura mater was resected from the lateral and posterior walls of the cavernous sinus. Morphometric measurements were taken of the Dorello’s canal and the PLL and PSL, and the relationships of the abducens nerve with these ligaments were confirmed. Dorello’s canal was identified in all cases. Its average length was 3.7 mm and its average diameter was 1.4 mm. Both ligaments were identified in 100% of the cases. The average length of the PSL was 14.5 mm and the average width was 2.1 mm. The average width of the PLL was 3.5 mm. The course of the abducens nerve in Dorello’s canal described a laterally concave or straight curve in most cases. The PSL was found in 85% of cases to be superior to the abducens nerve. The PLL was found in 100% of cases to be inferior to the abducens nerve. This study provides evidence of the variability of the abducens nerve’s relationship to the cavernous sinus, which is important in the management of the petroclival region.
