Foramina of the Skull

Question 1

foramina of the cranial base (inferior view):

incisive fossa (2)

Answer 1

nasopalatine nerve

sphenopalatine vessels

Question 2

foramina of the cranial base (inferior view):

greater palatine foramen (1)

Answer 2

greater palatine nerve & vessels

Question 3

foramina of the cranial base (inferior view):

lesser palatine foramen (1)

Answer 3

lesser palatine nerve & vessels

Question 4

foramina of the cranial base (inferior view):

foramen lacerum (3)

Answer 4

greater petrosal nerve

deep petrosal nerve

internal carotid artery

*all pass across its upper portion

Question 5

foramina of the cranial base (inferior view):

pterygoid canal (2)

Answer 5

nerve of the pterygoid canal (greater & deep petrosal nerves)

vessels of the pterygoid canal

Question 6

foramina of the cranial base (inferior view):

foramen ovale (3)

Answer 6

mandibular nerve (V3)

lesser petrosal nerve

accessory meningeal artery

Question 7

foramina of the cranial base (inferior view):

foramen spinosum (2)

Answer 7

middle meningeal artery & vein

meningeal branch of V3

Question 8

foramina of the cranial base (inferior view):

carotid canal (1)

Answer 8

internal carotid artery & plexus

Question 9

foramina of the cranial base (inferior view):

pterotympanic fissure (1)

Answer 9

chorda tympani of facial nerve

Question 10

foramina of the cranial base (inferior view):

stylomastoid foramen (1)

Answer 10

facial nerve

Question 11

foramina of the cranial base (inferior view):

jugular fossa (5)

Answer 11

glossopharyngela nerve (IX)

vagus nerve (X)

accessory nerve (XI)

inferior petrosal sinus

internal jugular vein

Question 12

foramina of the cranial base (inferior view):

hypoglossal canal (1)

Answer 12

hypoglossal nerve

Question 13

foramina of the cranial base (inferior view):

foramen magnum (3)

Answer 13

medulla oblongata/spinal cord

vertebral arteries & venous plexus

accessory nerve roots

Question 14

foramina of the cranial base (superior view):

nasal slit (1)

Answer 14

anterior ethmoidal nerve & vessels

Question 15

foramina of the cranial base (superior view):

anterior ethmoidal foramen (1)

Answer 15

anterior ethmoidal nerve & vessels

Question 16

foramina of the cranial base (superior view):

foramina of cribriform plate (1)

Answer 16

olfactory nerves (I)

Question 17

foramina of the cranial base (superior view):

posteiror ethmoidal foramen (1)

Answer 17

posterior ethmoidal nerve & vessels

Question 18

foramina of the cranial base (superior view):

optic canal (2)

Answer 18

optic nerve (II)

opthalmic artery

Question 19

foramina of the cranial base (superior view):

superior orbital fissure (5)

Answer 19

oculomotor nerve (III)

trochlear nerve (IV)

opthalmic nerve (VI) branches

abducens nerve (VI)

superior opthalmic vein

Question 20

foramina of the cranial base (superior view):

foramen rotundum (1)

Answer 20

maxillary nerve (V2)

Question 21

foramina of the cranial base (superior view):

foramen ovale (3)

Answer 21

mandibular nerve (V3)

lesser petrosal nerve

accessory meningeal artery

Question 22

foramina of the cranial base (superior view):

foramen spinosum (2)

Answer 22

middle meningeal artery & vein

meningeal branch of V3

Question 23

foramina of the cranial base (superior view):

foramen lacerum (3)

Answer 23

greater petrosal nerve

deep petrosal nerve

internal carotid artery

• all pass across its upper end
• not a true foramen
• in life, its lower portion is occluded by cartilage

Question 24

foramina of the cranial base (superior view):

carotid canal (1)

Answer 24

internal carotid artery & plexus

Question 25

foramina of the cranial base (superior view): hiatus of the greater petrosal nerve (1)

Answer 25

greater petrosal nerve

Question 26

foramina of the cranial base (superior view): hiatus of the lesser petrosal nerve (1)

Answer 26

lesser petrosal nerve

Question 27

foramina of the cranial base (superior view): internal acoustic meatus (3)

Answer 27

facial nerve (VII) vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII) labyrinthine artery

Question 28

foramina of the cranial base (superior view): jugular foramen (5)

Answer 28

glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) vagus nerve (X) accessory nerve (XI) inferior petrosal sinus sigmoid sinus / internal jugular vein

Question 29

foramina of the cranial base (superior view): hypoglossal canal (1)

Answer 29

hypoglossal nerve

Question 30

foramina of the cranial base (superior view): foramen magnum (3)

Answer 30

medulla oblongata / spinal cord vertebral arteries & venous plexus accessory nerve roots

Question 31

foramina of the facial aspect of cranium: supraorbital notch / foramen (1)

Answer 31

supraorbital nerve & vessels

Question 32

foramina of the facial aspect of cranium: infraorbital foramen (1)

Answer 32

infraorbital nerve & vessels

Question 33

foramina of the facial aspect of cranium: mental foramen (1)

Answer 33

mental nerve & vessels

Question 34

foramina of the facial aspect of cranium: superior orbital fissure (5)

Answer 34

oculomotor nerve (III) trochlear nerve (IV) opthalmic nerve (VI) branches abducens nerve (VI) superoir opthalmic vein

Question 35

foramina of the facial aspect of cranium: inferior orbital fissure (3)

Answer 35

infraorbital nerve & vessels zygomatic nerve inferior opthalmic vein

Question 36

foramina of the facial aspect of cranium: infraorbital groove (1)

Answer 36

infraorbital nerve & vessels

Question 37

foramina of the facial aspect of cranium: optic canal (2)

Answer 37

optic nerve (II) opthalmic artery

Question 38

foramina of the mandible: mandibular foramen (1)

Answer 38

inferior alveolar nerve & vessels

Question 39

foramina of the mandible: mental foramen (1)

Answer 39

mental nerve & vessels