Cranial fossa + nerves Flashcards
what is found in anterior cranial fossa?
frontal lobes
crista galli?
cribiform plate?
nerves?
Crista galli = a bony ridge formed by the frontal bone that provides attachment for the dura mater
Cribriform plate = part of the ethmoid bone, in life it has the olfactory bulbs lying on its superior surface
The olfactory nerves project up from the nasal cavity through the cribriform plate to join the olfactory bulb (CN I)
sphenoid bone anterior fossa?
what passes through here?
which skull area?
Sphenoid bone = contains the optic canals in anterior fossa
optic nerves (CNII) + ophthalmic artery (pass between the orbit + inside of the skull)
this part of sphenoid contributes to anterior fossa
which skull area is this?
Label
middle fossa
sphenoid bone middle cranial fossa?
The sphenoid bone also contributes to the floor of the middle cranial fossa —> forms orbital fissures, foramen rotundum, foramen ovale and foramen spinosum
trigeminal nerve middle cranial fossa?
Pathway of branches?
The trigeminal nerve forms a large ganglia that sits on the floor of the middle cranial fossa. Here it divides into its 3 divisions V1 ophthalmic, V2 maxillary and V3 mandibular.
V1 is a sensory nerve = passes through the superior orbital fissure to reach the orbit. It is accompanied by CN III oculomotor, CN IV trochlear and CN VI abducent as they also use the superior orbital fissure to enter the orbit
V2 also sensory = pass through foramen rotundum towards maxilla
V3 = motor + sensory fibres through foramen ovale to infratemporal fossa
what structures pass through foramen ovale?
CN V3, otic ganglion (actually sitting at the exit of the foramen in the infratemporal fossa), the accessory meningeal artery, the lesser petrosal nerve and emissary veins
what passes through foramen spinosum?
Foramen lacerum?
Foramen spinosum = middle meningeal artery, a branch of the maxillary artery that supplies blood to the dura
Foramen lacerum = internal carotid artery to enter the middle cranial fossa
which brain lobe is in middle cranial fossa
temporal tobes
how does internal carotid artery enter the skull?
Internal carotid artery enters the skull via the carotid canal, it then turns away from the canal and enters the top of the foramen lacerum.
It does not pass all of the way through the foramen lacerum
The artery then lies either side of the body of the sphenoid bone where it will enter the cavernous venous sinus before contributing to the circle of Willis
which area of the skull is this
formed by which bones?
label
posterior cranial fossa
The temporal bone contributes to the floors of both the middle and posterior cranial fossae, but it is the occipital bone that forms most of the floor of the posterior fossa
which bone is jugular foramen found in?
and what else?
occipital bone
also foramen magnum + hypoglossal canals
what passes through jugular foramen?
foramen magnum?
hypoglossal canal?
jugular foramen = IJV, glossopharyngeal, vagus + accessory nerves
foramen magnum = spinal cord, vertebral arteries + spinal part of accessory nerve
hypoglossal canal = hypoglossal nerve
which part of brain is found in posterior cranial fossa?
The cerebellum lies in the posterior cranial fossa
label
where is this structure found?
what passes through?
Sitting in the petrous part of the temporal bone is the internal acoustic meatus.
IAM = facial nerve + vestibulocochlear nerve (exit cranial cavity and enter the temporal bone)
Note how the trigeminal nerve (CN V) forms a ganglion before dividing into its 3 divisions
CN I?
pathway?
unique?
Olfactory nerve
from olfactory mucosa –> through cribriform plate to synapse in olfactory bulb –> olfactory tracts to prepiriform area of amygdala (primary olfactory cortex)
Only sensory system not relayed through thalamus
(so the actual olfactory nerves pass from the mucosa in the nose through the cribriform plate to synapse in the olfactory bulb - what is seen on the surface of the brain is the olfactory bulb and tract not the nerves themselves)
CN II?
Pathway?
Optic nerve
From the retina through optic canal, form chiasm then optic tracts
90% fibres to lateral geniculate body (thalamus) then striate area (visual cortex of occipital lobe)
10% along medial root (non-geniculate) unconscious regulation