Anatomy of the cranial cavity

Question 1

How is the cranial cavity divided?

Answer 1

3 cranial fossae

Question 2

What are the cranial fossae

Answer 2

• Anterior
• Middle
• Posterior

Question 3

What is the anterior cranial fossae?

Answer 3

The roof of the orbits

accommodates the frontal lobes of the brain

Question 4

What is the middle cranial fossae?

Answer 4

Accommodates the temporal lobes of the brain

Question 5

What is the posterior cranial fossae?

Answer 5

Accommodates the cerebellum, pons and medulla oblongata of the brain

Question 6

What structures are found within the foramen magnum?

Answer 6

• medulla oblongata
• meninges
• vertebral arteries
• meningeal branches of the vertebral arteries
• Spinal roots of the accessory nerves (CN XI)

Question 7

What structure is found within the hypoglossal canal?

Answer 7

The hypoglossal nerve (CNXII)

Question 8

What structures are found within the jugular foramen?

Answer 8

• inferior petrosal sinus
• glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
• vagus nerve (CN X)
• Accessory nerve (CN XI)
• Sigmoid sinus
• Posterior meningeal artery

Question 9

What structures are found within the internal acoustic meatus?

Answer 9

• Facial nerve (CN VII)
• vestibulochochlear nerve (CNVIII)
• Labyrinthine artery

Question 10

What structures are the two hiatuses within the cranial cavity for?

Answer 10

The greater and lesser petrosal nerves

CN VII and CN IX resepctively

Question 11

What structures are found within the carotid canal?

Answer 11

• The internal carotid artery

- The internal carotid nerve plexus

Question 12

What structure is found within the foramen lacerum?

Answer 12

The artery of pterygoid canal and the nerve of pterygoid canal

Question 13

What structures are found within the foramen spinosum?

Answer 13

• Middle meningeal artery and vein

- Meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve

Question 14

What structures are found within the foramen ovale?

Answer 14

• The mandibular nerve (V.3)
• The accessory meningeal artery
• The lesser petrosal nerve (occasionally)

Question 15

What structure is found within the foramen rotundum?

Answer 15

The maxillary nerve (V.2)

Question 16

What structures are found within the superior orbital fissure?

Answer 16

• The occulomotor nerve (CNIII)
• The trochlear nerve (CNIV)
• The lacrimal, frontal and nasociliary branches of the opthalmic nerve (V.1)
• Superior opthalmic vein

Question 17

What structures are found within the optic canal?

Answer 17

• Optic nerve (CNII)

- Opthalmic artery

Question 18

What structures are found within the posterior ethmoidal foramen?

Answer 18

Posterior ethmoidal artery, vein and nerve

Question 19

What structure is found within the foramina of the cribiform plate?

Answer 19

The olfactory nerve bundles

Question 20

What structures are found within the anterior ethmoidal foramen?

Answer 20

Anterior ethmoidal artery, vein and nerve

Question 21

What structure is found within the foramen cecum?

Answer 21

Emissary vein to superior sagittal sinus

Question 22

Which bones make up the cranial cavity?

Answer 22

• frontal
• occipital
• sphenoid
• ethmoid
• 2 x parietal
• 2 x temporal

(8 in total)

Question 23

Which foramina are found in the anterior cranial fossa?

Answer 23

• foramen cecum
• foramina of cribiform plate
• anterior ethmoidal foramen
• posterior ethmoidal foramen

Question 24

Which foramina are found in the middle cranial fossa?

Answer 24

• superior orbital fissure
• ## foramen rotundum