Development of the Jugular Bulb

Abstract

The JB is a dynamic structure that forms after 2 years, and its size stabilizes in adulthood. The determinants in its exact position and size are multifactorial and may be related to blood flow. Improved understanding of this structure's development may help to better understand the cause of the high-riding JB and JB diverticulum, both of which may cause clinical symptoms.

Large Jugular Bulb Abnormalities Involving the Middle Ear

“…The presence of JBME in a young child suggests that it might either have been congenital or acquired very early in life. It is interesting to note that in normal development, the jugular bulb does not form a ''bulb'' until the age of 2 years; this would support the conjecture that abnormalities of the jugular bulb, like the formation of the bulb itself, are a postnatal event (14,15). Its presence in older adults and demonstration of progression is consistent with the hypothesis that JBD is an evolving vascular malformation acquired with growth.…”

“…Its presence in older adults and demonstration of progression is consistent with the hypothesis that JBD is an evolving vascular malformation acquired with growth. In support with this hypothesis is the recent published developmental study demonstrating that JB increases in size until the fourth decade of life (15).…”

Cranial venous sinus dominance: what to expect? Analysis of 100 cerebral angiographies

“…2 Identification of a high jugular bulb has great value when planning surgeries through the temporal bone and some authors have tried to correlate this with other anatomic findings 25 . The study by Friedmann et al 7 showed that jugular bulbs were not detected in patients younger than two years, became enlarged in adulthood, and remained stable in the elderly.…”

“…Another anatomic study by Park et al showed right dominance in 35.5% and symmetry in 58.1%. 15 A study based on CT scans by Friedmann et al 7 showed that the right-sided venous dominance was most common (70-80%), and the venous system was larger in men than women. A study based on magnetic resonance venography by Manara et al, 23 showed that the mean caliber of the right TS was significantly greater than the contralateral sinus (6.5 mm +/-1.84 vs. 5.1 mm +/-1.72).…”

“…They collect blood from the superficial and deep cerebral veins, meninges and calvarium, and form the main drainage route of the cranial cavity 2 . The understanding of the cranial venous sinus anatomy is fundamental in neurosurgery and radiology, especially in surgical planning and treatment of neurological diseases, and to avoid complications 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 . The cerebral venous drainage dominance analysis should be considered before operations on patients for a large variety of neurosurgical diseases, especially if possible coagulation of venous structures is needed 5 .…”