Foramina of the cranial Base

Question 1

What are the 12 foramina of the cranial base and what nerves/arterie/veins go through them?

Answer 1

1-Foramina of the cribriform plate - Olfactory nerve bundles

2-Optic Canal -Optic nerve and Opthalmic nerve

3-Superior orbital fissure - Oculomotor nerve. Trochlear nerve, Opthalmic nerve(Lacriminal, Frontal and nasociliary branches), Abduchens nerve, Superior ophthalmic nerve

4-Foramen Rotundum-Maxillary nerve

5-Foramne Ovale -Mandibular nerve, accessory meningeal artery, lesser petrosal nerve

6-Foramen spinosum-Midle Meningeal artery and vein, Meningeal branch of mandibular nerve

7-Foramen lacerum-greater petrosal nerve crosses this space

8-Carotid canal- Internal carotid artery, internal carotid nerve plexus

9-Internal acoustic meatus-Facial nerve, vestibulocochlear nerve, Labyrinthine artery

10-Jugular Foramen-Inferior petrosal venous sinus, Glossopharyngeal nerve, Vagus nerve, Accessory nerve, Sigmoid venus sinus, posterior meningeal artery

11-Hypoglossal canal-hypoglossal nerve

12-Foramen Magnum-medulla oblingata, meninges, vertebral arteries, meningeal branches of the vertebral arteries, spinal roots of the accessory nerves