Major foramina of the skull

Question 1

What are the contents of the cribiform foramina?

Answer 1

Olfactory nerve (CN I) filaments

Question 2

What are the contents of the optic canal?

Answer 2

The optic nerve (CN II), ophthalmic artery, and meninges

Question 3

What are the contents of the superior orbital fissure?

Answer 3

The occulomotor nerve (CN III), the trochlear nerve (CN IV), the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1), the abducens nerve (CN VI), and the ophthalmic vein.

Question 4

What are the contents of the inferior orbital fissure?

Answer 4

The maxillary nerve (CN V2)

Question 5

What are the contents of the infraorbital canal and fissure?

Answer 5

The infraorbital artery, vein, and nerve.

Question 6

What are the contents of the foramen rotundum?

Answer 6

The maxillary nerve (CN V2).

Question 7

What are the contents of the foramen ovale?

Answer 7

The mandibular nerve (CN V3).

Question 8

What are the contents of the foramen spinosum?

Answer 8

The middle meningeal artery and vein, and the meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3).

Question 9

What are the contents of the carotid canal?

Answer 9

The internal carotid artery, and the carotid plexus (deep petrosal nerve).

Question 10

What are the contents of the foramen lacerum?

Answer 10

It is normally covered in cartilage, but does transmit some of the ascending pharyngeal artery and the deep petrosal nerve.

Question 11

What are the contents of the internal acoustic meatus?

Answer 11

The facial nerve (CN VII).

Question 12

What are the contents of the jugular foramen?

Answer 12

The inferior petrosal sinus, the internal jugular vein, the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), the vagus nerve (CN X), and the spinal accessory nerve (CN XI).

Question 13

What are the contents of the hypoglossal canal?

Answer 13

The hypoglossal nerve (CN XII).

Question 14

What are the contents of the supraorbital foramen?

Answer 14

The supraorbital artery, vein, and nerve.

Question 15

What are the contents of the nasolacrimal canal?

Answer 15

The nasolacrimal duct.

Question 16

What are the contents of the mandibular foramen?

Answer 16

The inferior alveolar nerve, artery, and vein.

Question 17

What are the contents of the mental foramen?

Answer 17

The mental nerve, artery, and vein.

Question 18

What lies in the sella turcica portion of the sphenoid bone?

Answer 18

The hypophyseal fossa, which the pituitary gland sits in.

Question 19

What are the contents of the of the foramen magnum?

Answer 19

The spinal accessory nerve (CN XI), the vertebral arteris, the anterior and posterior spinal arteries, and the medulla oblongata/spinal cord.