Cranial Fossae

Question 1

The olfactory nerve exits the cranial vault via what opening?

Answer 1

cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone

Question 2

What are the contents of the optic canal?

Answer 2

the optic nerve and ophthalmic artery

Question 3

What are the contents of the superior orbital fissure?

Answer 3

the ophthalmic veins, the oculomotor nerve, the trochlear nerve, the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve, and the abducent nerve

Question 4

What are the contents of the foramen rotundum?

Answer 4

the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve Vb)

Question 5

What are the contents of the foramen ovale?

Answer 5

the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (Vc) and the lesser petrosal branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve

Question 6

What are the contents of the foramen spinosum?

Answer 6

the nervus spinosus from the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve and the middle meningeal artery

Question 7

What are the contents of the internal acoustic meatus?

Answer 7

cranial nerves VII (facial nerve) and VIII (vestibulocochlear/auditory nerve), the nervus intermedius/nerve of Wrisberg/sensory root of VII and the motor root of VII, the vestibular and cochlear roots of VIII and the internal auditory/internal labyrinthine artery and vein

Question 8

What are the contents of the jugular foramen?

Answer 8

the jugular bulb, the inferior petrosal sinus, the tympanic body/tympanic glomus or jugular body/jugular glomus, cranial nerves IX (glossopharyngeal), X (vagus), and XI (spinal accessory)