Cranial Fossae, Middle Cranial Fossa, Posterior Cranial Fossa

Question 1

The olfactory nerve exits the cranial vault via what opening?

Answer 1

cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone

Question 2

What passes through the foramen cecum?

Answer 2

an emissary vein

Question 3

What is the anterior boundary of the middle cranial fossa?

Answer 3

lesser wings, anterior clinoid process and sphenoidal jugum of sphenoid bone

Question 4

What are the parts of the sella turcica?

Answer 4

anterior clinoid process, sphenoidal jugum, posterior clinoid process, dorsum sella, and hypophyseal fossa of sphenoid bone

Question 5

What neuronal structure is located in front of the hypophysis cerebri or pitutary gland?

Answer 5

optic chiasmata

Question 6

What are the contents of the optic canal?

Answer 6

the optic nerve and ophthalmic artery

Question 7

What are the contents of the superior orbital fissure?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Which single opening will allow the exit of the greatest number of cranial nerves?

Answer 8

the superior orbital fissure

Question 9

What are the contents of the foramen rotundum?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What will the foramen ovale communicate with?

Answer 10

the middle cranial fossa and the infratemporal region

Question 11

What are the contents of the foramen ovale?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What will the foramen spinosum communicate with?

Answer 12

the middle cranial fossa and infratemporal region

Question 13

What are the contents of the foramen spinosum?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What bones converge to form the foramen lacerum?

Answer 14

the temporal, sphenoid, and occipital bones

Question 15

What will the foramen lacreum communicate with in the living person?

Answer 15

it crosses between the parts of the middle cranial fossa; it is not a major exit from the skull as would be suggested by the dry skull

Question 16

What are the contents of the hiatus for the greater (superficial) petrosal nerve?

Answer 16

the greater (superficial) petrosal nerve, a branch of the facial nerve?

Question 17

What will the vidian canal/pterygoid canal communicate with?

Answer 17

the middle cranial fossa and pterygopalatine fossa

Question 18

What opening allows a branch of the cranial nerve VII to enter the pterygopalatine fossa?

Answer 18

the vidian canal/pterygoid canal

Question 19

What are the contents of the hiatus for the lesser petrosal nerve?

Answer 19

the lesser petrosal nerve, a branch of the tympanic plexus fromthe glossopharyngeal nerve

Question 20

How will the lesser petrosal nerve typically exit the middle cranial fossa?

Answer 20

the foramen ovale

Question 21

WHat will the foramen oval communicate with?

Answer 21

the middle cranial fossa and infratemporal region

Question 22

What forms the roof the the posterior cranial fossa?

Answer 22

the tentorium cerebelli

Question 23

What apart of the cerebrum occupies the posterior cranial fossa?

Answer 23

none; the tentorium cerebelli seperates the cerebrum into a space above the posterior cranial fossa

Question 24

What part of the central nervous system occupies the posterior cranial fossa?

Answer 24

the cerebellum, pons and medulla oblongata

Question 25

What are the contents of the internal acoustic meatus?

Answer 25

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 26

What are the contents of the jugular foramen?

Answer 26

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)

Question 27

What is the jugular bulb?

Answer 27

the venous expansion between the sigmoid dural venous sinus and the internal jugular vein

Question 28

What is the function of the jugular body/jugular glomus?

Answer 28

a chemoreceptive organ that monitors hypoxia, hypercapnia and increases in the hydrogen ion

Question 29

What will the hypoglossal canal communicate with?

Answer 29

the posterior cranial fossa and the neck