Detailed Exploration of the Skull Flashcards
Orbital plates of frontal bone
Ant Cranial Fossa
Convex elevations to either side of cribriform plates.
- Form roof of bony orbit below
Crista galli of ethmoid bone
Ant Cranial Fossa
projects upward in midline. Also provides attachment for falx cerebri
Cribriform plate
Ant Fossa
Ethmoid bone, perforated areas on either side of crista Galli.
- Small perforations communicate with roof of nasal cavity below and transmit olfactory n (CNI)
Lesser wing of sphenoid
Posterior aspect of anterior cranial fossa
Anterior clinic processes
Middle cranial fossa
Extend posteriorly from lesser wing of sphenoid bone and provide attachments for dura
Petrous portion of temporal bone
SP
Sella turcica of sphenoid bone
“Turkish saddle” (within circle)
Tuberculum sellae
front of “saddle”
Hypophyseal (pituitary) fossa
Concavity that resembles rider’s seat in saddle and accommodates pituitary gland
Dorsum sellae
Back of “saddle”
Posterior clinoid processes
Extend posteriorly from either end of dorsum sellae and provide dural attachments
Optic canals
Pass forward to orbits and transmit optic nerves and ophthalmic arteries
Optic canals
Pass forward to orbits and transmit optic nerves and ophthalmic arteries
Superior orbital fissure
Inverted, comma-shaped gap between greater and lesser wings of sphenoid bone found under cover of lesser wing that communicates w/ orbit anteriorly and through which pass ophthalmic veins and CN 3, 4, 6, V1
Foramen rotundum
Round opening posterior to inferior orbital fissure that transmits maxillary nerve (CN V2)
Foramen ovale
oval-shaped opening posterior to foramen rotundum, that leads to infra temporal region below skull and transmits mandibular nerve (CN V3)
Foramen spinosum
Immediately behind and lateral to foramen oval; small round opening leading from infratemporal region below that transmits middle meningeal artery
Foramen lacerum
Opening on either side of hypophyseal fossa for entrance of ICA
Carotid canal
Junction of greater wing of sphenoid and petrous portion of temporal bone
Hiatus for greater petrosal n
Exits from anterior slope of petrous temporal ridge (groove can be followed to foramen lacer)
H
Hiatus for greater petrosal n
Exits from anterior slope of petrous temporal ridge (groove can be followed to foramen lacerum)
Hiatus and groove transmit greater petrosal n
Hiatus and groove for lesser petrosal n
Run parallel and inferior to greater hiatus and groove, which leads toward foramen ovale and transmits lesser petrosal n