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The Head > Cranial Foramina > Flashcards

Cranial Foramina Flashcards

1
Q

cranial base is the ___ and has 2 surfaces which are ______ and _____

A

floor of cranial cavity
2 surfaces: endocranium and external cranial base

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2
Q

external cranial base involves

A

viscerocranium and neurocranium

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3
Q

endocranium
is the ____ surface of cranial cavity
composed of which fossa?

A

internal surface of cranial cavity base
3 cranial fossae: anterior, middle, & posterior (PAM)

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4
Q

foramen

A

small opening in bone to allows passage of structure in/out of cranial cavity

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5
Q

fissure

A

openings not entirely surrounded by bone structure

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6
Q

canals

A

openings larger in length than diameter (long and skinny)

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7
Q

anterior fossa
location
contains what 2 structures

A

located superior to orbital and nasal fossa
contains frontal lobes and olfactory bulb

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8
Q

what are the 2 foramina of the anterior fossa?

A

foramen caecum and cribiform plate

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9
Q

foramen caecum
articulates with ___ bone
contains what major vein
what is its clinical relevance

A

articulates with ethmoid bone
contains emissary vein from nose to superior sagittal sinus
clinical relevance: danger triangle of face –> nose infection can spread retrograde facilitated by emissary vein
risks: sinus thrombosis, abscesses, & meningitis

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10
Q

cribiform plate
separates which 2 cavities
supports _____
contains what major structure
what foramina does it contain and what does it allow passage for

A

separates nasal and cranial cavities
supports olfactory bulb
contains crista galli (part of ethmoid bone)
olfactory foramina = passage for olfactory fibers

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11
Q

middle cranial fossa contains what 2 major structures

A

temporal lobes and pituitary gland (body sphenoid bone contains pituitary gland too)

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12
Q

list the 7 foramina that the middle cranial fossa contains

A
  1. optic canal
  2. superioir orbital fissure
  3. foramen ovale
  4. foramen rotundum
  5. foramen spinosum
  6. foramen lacerum
  7. foramen petrosum
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13
Q

optical canal
location
connects which 2 cavities
allows passage of (2)
how are the optic canals connected

A

location: sphenoid bone
connects orbital and cranial cavities
passage of: optic nerve & opthalmic artery
optic canals connect by chiasmatic sulcus on ea. side of skull

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14
Q

superior orbital fissure
located between what structures
passage for which structures (5)

A

cleft between lesser and greater sphenoid bone
opens into orbital cavity
passage for:
1. Oculomotor nerve (CN3)
2. Trochlear nerve (CN4)
3. Trigeminal nerve (CN5) - (opthalmic branch)
4. Abducens nerve (CN6)
5. Opthalmic veins

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15
Q

foramen rotundum
location
connects what 2 structures
allows passage for

A

round opening
location: sphenoid bone
connects pterygopalatine with middle cranial fossa
passage for: maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve (CN5)

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16
Q

foramen ovale
location
opens into _____ fossa
passage for which CN?

A

largest foramina in cranial base
location: greater wings of posterior sphenoid
opens into infratemporal fossa
passage for: mandibular brach of trigeminal nerve (CN5)

17
Q

foramen vesalii
aka:
location

A

aka: sphenoidal emissary foramen
location: greater wing of sphenoid

18
Q

foramen spinosum
location
allows passage for (3)

A

location: greater wing of sphenoid
passage for: middle meningeal artery, middle meningeal vein, meningeal branch of mandibular nerve (CN5)

19
Q

carotid canal
passes through ___ (bone)
connects ____ with ____
passed for ___ artery and ____ nerve

A

passes through temporal bone
connects neck with middle cranial fossa
passage for: carotid artery and petrosal nerve

20
Q

foramen lacerum
shape of this opening
after birth what change does it undergo
which nerve is present here

A

triangular opening
filled with cartilaginous tissue after birth
houses petrosal nerve

21
Q

foramen petrosum
location
found between which 2 foramina
passage for ____

A

location: greater wing of sphenoid
found between foramen spinosum and ovale
passage for: petrosal nerve

22
Q

posterior cranial fossa
location/depth
supports what 2 major structures
Composed of which 3 bones

A

posterior and deepest depression of cranial cavity
supports brainstem and cerebellum
composed of: temporal bones, occipital bone, and small portion of parietal bones

23
Q

foramina of posterior cranial fossa (4)

A

internal acoustic meatus
foramen magnum
jugular foramina
hypoglossal canal

24
Q

internal acoustic meatus
what region of temporal bone is it located
connects ____ with _____
passage for: (4)

A

canal on petrous region of temporal bone
connects inner ear with posterior cranial fossa
passage for: facial nerve (CN7) , vestibulocochlear nerve (CN8), labyrinthe artery, & vestibular ganglion

25
Q

foramen magnum
location
passage for (5)

A

location: occipital bone
passage for: medulla oblongata, meninges, spinal cord accessory nerve, anterior/posterior spinal carties, & vertebral arteries

26
Q

clinical relevance of conditions associated with foramen magnum

A

conditions like congenital structure defects or increased intracranial pressure from conditions like hydrocephalus can cause herniation of cerebellar tonsils through foramen magnum. this results in compression of vital structures like the pons and medulla oblongata

27
Q

jugular foramen
located between which 2 bones
allows passage for what structures (6)

A

large foramen between temporal bone and occipital bone
passage for:
1. glossopharyngeal nerve (CN 9)
2. Vagus nerve (CN 10)
3. Spinal accessory nerve (CN 11)
4. Inferior jugular vein
5. inferior petrosal sinus
6. sigmoid sinus

28
Q

hypoglossal canal
location
allows passage for (1)

A

location: occipital bone
passage for: hypoglossal nerve (CN 12)

29
Q

mastoid foramen
location
allows passage for (2)

A

location: temporal bone
passage for:
1. mastoid emissary vein to sigmoid sinus
2. small branch of occipital artery to dura mater

30
Q

The vestibulocochlear nerve passes through the posterior cranial fossa. What provides passage of this structure?

A

internal acoustic meatus

31
Q

Olfactory axons of cranial nerve I pass through the anterior cranial fossa. What provides passage of this structure?

A

Cribiform plate

32
Q

A fissure exists between the anterior and middle cranial fossa. Which structure within this fissure is most inferior?

A

abducens nerve

33
Q

The greater petrosal nerve passes through the middle cranial fossa. What provides passage of this structure?

A

foramen lacerum

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