Foramina of the Skull

Question 1

Cribiform plate

Answer 1

CN I (olfactory nerve) fibers

Question 2

Foramen cecum

Answer 2

Emissary v from nasal cavity to superior sagittal sinus

Question 3

Anterior ethmoidal foramen

Answer 3

Anterior ethmoidal nerve, artery, and vein

Question 4

Posterior ethmoidal foramen

Answer 4

Posterior ethmoidal nerve, artery, and vein

Question 5

Sphenopalatine foramen

Answer 5

Sphenopalatine artery and vein (plus branches), nasopalatine nerve, posterior lateral nasal nerves

Question 6

Optic canal

Answer 6

CN II, ophthalmic artery, sympathetic fibers from internal carotid plexus

Question 7

Superior orbital fissure

Answer 7

CN III, IV, V1, VI, superior ophthalmic vein, lacrimal artery, sympathetic fibers from internal carotid plexus

Question 8

Inferior orbital fissure

Answer 8

Infraorbital nerve, infraorbital artery and vein, zygomatic nerve (plus branches)

Question 9

Supraorbital foramen or notch

Answer 9

Supraorbital nerve, artery, and vein

Question 10

Infraorbital foramen

Answer 10

Infraorbital nerve, artery, and vein

Question 11

Zygomaticotemporal foramen

Answer 11

Zygomaticotemporal nerve emerges from here onto temple

Question 12

Zygomaticofacial foramen

Answer 12

Zygomaticofacial nerve emerges from here onto face

Question 13

Alveolar canal

Answer 13

Posterior superior alveolar nerve, artery, and vein

Question 14

Foramen rotundum

Answer 14

CN V2

Question 15

Foramen ovale

Answer 15

CN V3, accessory meningeal artery

Question 16

Internal acoustic meatus

Answer 16

CN VII, VIII, labyrinthine artery

Question 17

External acoustic meatus

Answer 17

Tympanic membrane (blocks entrance to middle ear cavity)

Question 18

Groove for pharyngotympanic tube

Answer 18

Cartilaginous portion of auditory tube

Question 19

Stylomastoid foramen

Answer 19

CN VII

Question 20

Facial canal (opens into stylomastoid foramen)

Answer 20

CN VII

Question 21

Petrotympanic fissure

Answer 21

Chorda tympani nerve (from CN VII), anterior tympanic artery and vein

Question 22

Hiatus for greater petrosal nerve

Answer 22

Greater petrosal nerve (from CN VII)

Question 23

Hiatus for lesser petrosal nerve

Answer 23

Lesser petrosal nerve (from CN IX)

Question 24

Jugular foramen

Answer 24

CN IX, X, XI, IJV

Question 25

Hypoglossal canal

Answer 25

CN XII

Question 26

Carotid canal

Answer 26

ICA, sympathetic (carotid) plexus of nerves from internal carotid nerve

Question 27

Foramen lacerum

Answer 27

Largely filled with fibrocartilage; ICA runs above it to enter cranial vault

Question 28

Pterygomaxillary fissure

Answer 28

Terminal branches of maxillary artery and veins

Question 29

Pterygopalatine fossa

Answer 29

Pterygopalatine ganglion, CN V2, branches of maxillary artery and veins

Question 30

Pterygoid canal

Answer 30

Nerve (Vidian) of pterygoid canal

Question 31

Pharyngeal canal

Answer 31

Pharyngeal nerve, pharyngeal branches of maxillary arteries & veins

Question 32

Greater palatine foramen

Answer 32

Greater palatine nerve, artery, and vein, lesser palatine artery and vein

Question 33

Lesser palatine foramen

Answer 33

Lesser palatine nerve

Question 34

Incisive foramen

Answer 34

Nasopalatine nerve, branches of sphenopalatine artery and vein, branches of greater palatine artery and vein (anastomose with sphenopalatine branches)

Question 35

Foramen spinosum

Answer 35

Middle meningeal artery, meningeal branch of CN V3

Question 36

Foramen magnum

Answer 36

Spinal cord and meninges, ascending rootlets of CN XI, vertebral arteries, anterior and posterior spinal arteries

Question 37

Condyloid canal

Answer 37

Emissary veins from superficial veins of skull to sigmoid sinus

Question 38

Mandibular foramen

Answer 38

Inferior alveolar nerve, artery, and vein

Question 39

Mental foramen

Answer 39

Mental nerve