In the infant the region lateral to the sella turcica which is traditionally termed the ‘cavernous sinus’ is composed of 3 individual compartments. The aim of this study was to demonstrate a similar compartmentation of the adult cavernous sinus and to identify and quantify the adipose bodies which are located within the compartments. The region of the cavernous sinus in 136 adults was analysed by microdissection and histology. We demonstrate that in 66% of the cavernous sinus in adults is composed of at least 2 compartments and in 22% it is made up of 3. Assimilating the renaming in infants we termed the compartments ‘pterygopalatine’, ‘orbital’ and ‘lateral sellar’. The pterygopalatine and orbital compartments are connected with extracranial tissue spaces via the superior orbital fissure and contain characteristic adipose bodies. Exact topographic descriptions and measurements of the compartments and their adipose bodies are provided. Our study clearly defines compartmentation of the adult parasellar space in most individuals and thus changes the anatomical view of this space. The direct connection of 2 of these compartments with extracranial tissue spaces and the measurements of their adipose bodies are of interest for surgeons and neuroradiologists.

The Winter Meeting of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland was held at the Royal Holloway College, Egham, Surrey from 5th to 7th January 2000. It included a symposium on ‘Phenotypic changes in epithelial development’ and the Annual General Meeting of the Society. The following are abstracts of communications and posters presented at the meeting.

Articular hyaline cartilage takes on the contours of the subchondral bone on which it lies, but its thickness varies between joints, within a single joint and within a single articular surface. Previous studies have correlated articular cartilage thickness distribution with the degree of stress and weight bearing on joint surfaces, but few studies have considered the thickness of the calcified cartilage in relation to these parameters. Here we report a correlation between the cartilage thickness distribution and weight bearing distribution on the head of the 1st metatarsal bone, a component of one of the major weight bearing joints in the lower extremity during the gait cycle. The greatest total and uncalcified articular cartilage thickness was found on the central and lateral distal aspects of the metatarsal head, a region that receives maximal ground reactive force during the propulsive phase of the normal gait cycle. Although the thickness of the calcified cartilage was correlated with the thickness of the uncalcified cartilage, it varied to a lesser extent across the articular surface than did that of the uncalcified cartilage.

Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Future meetings

3–5 January 2001. Royal Holloway College. Winter meeting including a symposium on ‘The evolution of developmental mechanisms’ (organised by Anthony Graham and Gillian Morriss-Kay). Speakers include J. Brockes, A. Gould, A. Graham, B. Hill, L. Holland, P. Holland, C. Kimmel, N. Le Douarin, G. Morriss-Kay, O. Pourquie, P. Sharpe, A. Simeone, K. Smith, C. Stern, S. Wilson.

11–13 July 2001. University College, Dublin. Summer meeting, including a symposium on ‘The respiratory system’.

Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Future meeting

4 September 2000. University of York. One day symposium (part of the International Congress of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, 3–8 September 2000) on ‘Digital image capture, processing and analysis’.

Mrs Ruby Davies

We announce with regret the death of Mrs Ruby Davies on 18 July 2000. Ruby was Editorial Assistant to the Journal of Anatomy from 1970 to 1991. Ruby was the widow of Professor D. V. Davies, formerly Professor of Anatomy at St Thomas's Hospital Medical School, University of London, and Editor of the Journal. Ruby was a regular attender at meetings of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Future meetings

3–5 January 2001. Royal Holloway College. Winter meeting including a symposium on ‘The evolution of developmental mechanisms’ (organised by Anthony Graham and Gillian Morriss-Kay). Speakers include J. Brockes, A. Gould, A. Graham, B. Hill, L. Holland, P. Holland, C. Kimmel, N. Le Douarin, G. Morriss-Kay, O. Pourquie, P. Sharpe, A. Simeone, K. Smith, C. Stern, S. Wilson.

11–13 July 2001. University College, Dublin. Summer meeting, including a symposium on ‘The respiratory system’.