Osteology

Question 1

What structures pass through the jugular foramen?

Answer 1

CNIX, X, XI

internal jugular vein

Question 2

What two bones form the jugular foramen?

Answer 2

Occipital and (petrous part of) temporal bone

Question 3

What structures pass through the internal acoustic meatus?

Answer 3

facial nerve (CVII)
vestibulocochlear nerve (CNVIII)

Question 4

What foramina does CNV exit the skull from?

Answer 4

Foramen ovale - V3
Foramen rotundum - V2
Superior orbital fissure - V1

Question 5

What foramina are in the middle cranial fossa? What structures pass through these?

Answer 5

All foramina are in the sphenoid bone
Optic canal - CNII, ophthalmic artery, central retinal vein
Superior orbital fissure - CNVIII, IV, V1, VI, ophthalmic vein
Foramen rotundum - CNV2
Foramen ovale - CNV3
Foramen spinosum - middle meningeal artery

Question 6

What is special about C1 (atlas), C2 (axis) and C7 compared to other cervical vertebrae?

Answer 6

Atlas - has no body, anterior & posterior arches
Axis - has odontoid process (dens) extending upwards (which articulates with anterior arch of atlas)
C7 - doesn’t have a bifid spine

Question 7

What are the 3 functional parts of cervical vertebrae?

Answer 7

body - provides support
vertebral arch - form a roof over vertebral foramen (protects spinal cord)
spine and transverse processes - provide attachments for ligaments and muscles

Question 8

Vertebrae are joined together by intervertebral discs. These joints allow great movement of the head including…

Answer 8

flexion (nod)
lateral flexion (tilt)
rotation (left to right or right to left)

Question 9

What structures may leave imprints on the skull?

Answer 9

middle meningeal artery

arachnoid granulations

Question 10

What is the important structures contained within the anterior cranial fossa?

Answer 10

cribriform plate of ethmoid - allows olfactory nerves to pass through
crista galli - attachment for falx cerebri

Question 11

What is the deep depression in the middle cranial fossa?

Answer 11

pituitary fossa (sella turcica/hypophyseal fossa)

Question 12

The sphenoid bone (in the middle cranial fossa) has many important openings. What are these and what do they transmit?

Answer 12

superior orbital fissure - CNIII, IV, VI, V1
foramen rotundum - CNV2
forament ovale - CNV3
foramen spinosum - middle meningeal a., middle meningeal v., meningeal branch of CNV3

Question 13

Which structures pass through the foramen lacerum?

Answer 13

meningeal branch of ascending pharyngeal a.
emissary vein (from pterygoid venous plexus)
greater superficial petrosal n.
deep petrosal n. (from carotid plexus)