B. Middle Cranial Fossa Flashcards
What prominent parts of the brain rest on the middle cranial fossa?
temporal poles of temporal lobes of cerebrum, hypophysis cerebri, optic chiasma
What bony feature is prominent in the median plane of the middle cranial fossa?
sella turcica
What is the location for the hypophysis cerebri or pituatary gland?
sella turcica of the sphenoid
Which cranial nerves exit the skull via middle cranial fossa ostia?
cranial nerves II, III, IV, V, and VI
What are the contents of the optic canal?
the optic nerve and opthalmic artery
What are the contents of the superior orbital fissure?
the opthalmic veins, the oculomotor nerve, the trochlear nerve, the opthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve, and the abducent nerve
The maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve exits the middle cranial fossa via which opening?
the foramen rotundum
The mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve exits the middle cranial fossa via which opening?
the foramen ovale
What are the contents of the foramen spinosum?
the nervus spinosus from the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve and the middle meningeal artery
What are the contents of the foramen lacerum?
the internal carotid artery, the carotid sympathetic nerve plexus, and a venous plexus
What are the contents of the hiatus for the greater (superficial) petrosal nerve?
the greater (superficial) petrosal nerve, a branch of the facial nerve
What are the contents of the vidian canal/pterygoid canal?
the vidian nerve or the nerve of the pterygoid canal
What are the contents of the hiatus for the lesser petrosal nerve?
the lesser petrosal nerve, a branch of the tympanic plexus from the glossopharyngeal nerve
