Neuroanatomy 2 Flashcards
What joins the bones of the base of the skull?
fibrous joints called sutures
What 3 distinct depressions can be found on the base of the skull when looking down from above?
3 cranial fossae
Anterior cranial fossa
Middle cranial fossa
Posterior cranial fossa
What are cranial foramina?
Small holes which allow nerves, arteries, veins to pass through the skull
In each cranial fossa
What bones make up the anterior cranial fossa?
Orbital part of the frontal bone
Cribriform plate and crista galli of the ethmoid bone
Lesser wings of the sphenoid bone
What foramen can be found in the anterior cranial fossa?
The cribriform plate - transmits olfactory fibres
What bones is the middle cranial fossa made up of?
Petrous and squamous parts of the temporal bone - inferior and medial part of the temporal bone, flat lateral part of the temporal bone respectively
Greater wing and body of the sphenoid bone - cont the pituitary fossa(sella turcica)
Where is the pituitary fossa? (sella turcica)
The body of the sphenoid bone in the middle cranial fossa in the base of the skull
What foramina are there on each side of the middle cranial fossa? [6]
optic canal - transmits optic nerve
superior orbital fissure - transmits several nerves to the orbital region
foramen rotundum - transmits maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve
foramen ovale - transmits mandibular branch of trigeminal nerve
foramen lacerum - internal carotid artery exits carotid canal here
foramen spinosum - transmits middle meningeal artery
Which nerves are transmitted by the superior orbital fissure to the orbital region?
Motor innervation
- oculomotor
- trochlear
- abducens
Sensory innervation
- ophthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve
Which foramen do the branches of the trigeminal nerve travel through?
Ophthalmic branch - superior orbital fissure
Maxillary branch - foramen rotundum
Mandibular branch - foramen ovale
What bones make up the posterior cranial fossa?
Which lobes rest in the anterior cranial fossa?
frontal lobes
Which lobes rest in the posterior cranial fossa?
What bones make up the posterior cranial fossa?
Occipital lobe
Cerebellum
Brainstem
Occipital bone
Petrous part of the temporal bone (most anterior border)
Which lobes rest in the middle cranial fossa?
Temporal lobes
What foramina are located in the posterior cranial fossa? [4]
Internal auditory meatus - transmits VIII and VII into inner ear cavity
Jugular foramen - transmits nerves IX,X,XI and internal jugular vein
Hypoglossal canal - transmits nerve XII
Foramen magnum - central singular foramen allows central nervous system fibres to become spinal cord
What passes through the cribriform plate?
Olfactory fibres
What is transmitted by the optic canal?
Optic nerve into the bony orbit
What is transmitted by the superior orbital fissure?
Oculomotor (III)
Trochlear (IV)
Abducens (VI)
Ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal (V)
What is transmitted by the foramen rotundum?
Maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve (V)
What is transmitted by the foramen ovale?
Mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve (V)
What is transmitted by the foramen lacerum in the brain?
Internal carotid artery exits the carotid canal through this foramen to enter the skull
What is transmitted by the foramen spinosum in the skull?
Middle meningeal artery
What is transmitted by the internal auditory meatus in the skull?
Vestibulocochlear (VIII)
Facial (VII)
into the inner ear cavity
What is transmitted by the jugular foramen in the skull?
Glossopharyngeal (IX)
Vagus (X)
Acessory (XI)
Internal jugular vein