Middle cranial fossa

Question 1

What is the anterior boundary of the middle cranial fossa?

Answer 1

lesser wings, anterior clinoid processes & sphenoidal jugum of sphenoid bone

Question 2

What are the parts of the sella turcica?

Answer 2

anterior clinoid processes, sphenoidal jugum, posterior clinoid processes, dorsum sella, & hypophysial fossa of sphenoid bone

Question 3

What neuronal structure is located in front of the hypophysis cerebri or pituitary gland?

Answer 3

optic chiasmata

Question 4

*What are the contents of the optic canal?

Answer 4

the optic nerve and ophthalmic artery

Question 5

*What are the contents of the superior orbital fissure?

Answer 5

the ophthalmic veins, the oculomotor nerve, the trochlear nerve, the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve, and the abducent nerve

Question 6

Which single opening will allow the exit of the greatest number of cranial nerves?

Answer 6

the superior orbital fissure

Question 7

*What are the contents of the foramen rotundum?

Answer 7

the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve Vb)

Question 8

What will the foramen ovale communicate with?

Answer 8

the middle cranial fossa and the infratemporal region

Question 9

*What are the contents of the foramen ovale?

Answer 9

the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (Vc) and the lesser petrosal branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve

Question 10

What will the foramen spinosum communicate with?

Answer 10

the middle cranial fossa and the infratemporal region

Question 11

*What are the contents of the foramen spinosum?

Answer 11

the nervus spinosus from the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve and the middle meningeal artery

Question 12

What will the foramen lacerum communicate with in a living person?

Answer 12

it crosses between parts of the middle cranial fossa; it is not a major exit from the skull as would be suggested by the dry skull

Question 13

*What are the contents of the foramen lacerum?

Answer 13

the internal carotid artery, the carotid sympathetic nerve plexus, and a venous plexus

Question 14

What are the contents of the hiatus for the greater (superficial) petrosal nerve?

Answer 14

the greater (superficial) petrosal nerve, a branch of the facial nerve

Question 15

What will the vidian canal/pterygoid canal communicate with?

Answer 15

the middle cranial fossa and the pterygopalatine fossa

Question 16

What opening allows a branch of cranial nerve VII to enter the pterygopalatine fossa from the middle cranial fossa?

Answer 16

the vidian canal/pterygoid canal

Question 17

What are the contents of the hiatus for the lesser petrosal nerve?

Answer 17

the lesser petrosal nerve, a branch of the tympanic plexus from the glossopharyngeal nerve

Question 18

How will the lesser petrosal nerve typically exit the middle cranial fossa?

Answer 18

the foramen ovale

Question 19

What will the foramen ovale communicate with?

Answer 19

the middle cranial fossa and infratemporal region