Cranial Foramina & Contents

Question 1

foramen cecum

Answer 1

nasal emissary v (in small % of postpartum pop)

Question 2

cribriform foramina in cribriform plate

Answer 2

axons of olfactory cells in olfactory epithelium that form olfactory nn

Question 3

anterior & posterior ethmoidal foramina

Answer 3

vessels & nn with same names

Question 4

optic canal

Answer 4

• optic n (CN II)
• opthalmic a

Question 5

superior orbital fissure

Answer 5

• opthalmic v
• ophthalmic n (CN V1)
• CN III
• CN IV
• CN VI
• sympathetic fibers

Question 6

foramen rotundum

Answer 6

maxillary n (CN V2)

Question 7

foramen ovale

Answer 7

• mandibular n (V3)
• accessory meningeal a

Question 8

foramen spinosum

Answer 8

• middle meningeal a & v
• meningeal branches of CN V3

Question 9

foramen lacerum

Answer 9

• deep petrosal n
• some meningeal arterial branches & small vv

Question 10

groove/hiatus of greater petrosal n

Answer 10

• greater petrosal n
• petrosal branch of middle meningeal a

Question 11

foramen magnum

Answer 11

• medulla & meninges
• vertebral aa
• CN XI
• dural vv
• ant & post spinal aa

Question 12

jugular foramen

Answer 12

• CN IX, X, XI
• sup bulb of internal jugular v
• inf petrosal & sigmoid sinuses
• meningeal branches of ascending pharyngeal & occipital aa

Question 13

hypoglossal canal

Answer 13

hypoglossal n (CN XII)

Question 14

condylar canal

Answer 14

emissary v that passes from sigmoid sinus to vertebral vv in neck

Question 15

mastoid foramen

Answer 15

• mastoid emissary v from sigmoid sinus
• meningeal branch of occipital a