Skull Anatomy

Question 1

what is the name of cranial nerve 1 and where does it exit in the skull?

Answer 1

olfactory nerve; exits at the cribriform plate

Question 2

what is the name of cranial nerve 2 and where does it exit in the skull?

Answer 2

optic nerve; exits at the optic canal

Question 3

what is cranial nerve 3 and where does it exit in the skull?

Answer 3

occulomotor; exits at the orbital fissure

Question 4

what is cranial nerve 4 and where does it exit in the skull?

Answer 4

trochlear; exits at the orbital fissure

Question 5

what is cranial nerve 5, what are its 3 branches, and how does it exit the skull?

Answer 5

trigeminal nerve; trigeminal itself exits from the pons, then just prior to exiting the cranial cavity it splits into its 3 branches:
ophthalmic (sensory only): exits at the orbital fissure
maxillary (sensory only): exits at the round foramen, alar canal
mandibular (sensory and motor): exits at the oval foramen

trigeminal exits only in the cranial cavity! has branched before it exits

Question 6

what is cranial nerve 6 and where does it exit the skull?

Answer 6

abducens; exits at orbital fissure

Question 7

give 4 cranial nerves that exit the skull at the orbital fissure

Answer 7

1. occulomotor (3)
2. trochlear (4)
3. ophthalmic of trigeminal (5)
4. abducens (6)

Question 8

what is cranial nerve 7 and where does it exit the skull?

Answer 8

facial nerve; exits skull at internal acoustic meatus, stylomastoid foramen

Question 9

what is cranial nerve 8 and where does it exit the skull?

Answer 9

vestibulocochlear nerve; exits skull at internal acoustic meatus

Question 10

what is cranial nerve 9 and where does it exit the skull?

Answer 10

glossopharyngeal; exits skull at jugular foramen and tympano-occipital fissure

Question 11

what is cranial nerve 10 and where does it exit the skull?

Answer 11

vagus nerve; exits skull at the jugular foramen and tympano-occipital fissure

Question 12

what is cranial nerve 11 and where does it exit the skull?

Answer 12

spinal accessory nerve; exits at jugular foramen and tympano-occipital fissure

Question 13

give 3 cranial nerves that exit at the jugular foramen and tympano-occipital fissure

Answer 13

1. glossopharyngeal (9)
2. vagus (10)
3. spinal accessory (11)

Question 14

what is cranial nerve 12 and where does it exit the skull?

Answer 14

hypoglossal nerve; exits at the hypoglossal canal

Question 15

give the names of the 12 cranial nerves

Answer 15

1. olfactory
2. optic
3. occulomotor
4. trochlear
5. trigeminal
6. abducens
7. facial
8. vestibulocochlear
9. glossopharyngeal
10. vagus
11. spinal accessory
12. hypoglossal

Question 16

what passes through the foramen magnum?

Answer 16

spinal cord

Question 17

what passes through the optic canal?

Answer 17

optic nerve

Question 18

what passes through the round foramen?

Answer 18

maxillary nerve (branch of trigeminal)

Question 19

what passes through the alar canal?

Answer 19

maxillary artery and nerve (branch of trigeminal)

Question 20

what passes through the stylomastoid foramen?

Answer 20

facial nerve

Question 21

what passes through the hypoglossal canal?

Answer 21

hypoglossal nerve

Question 22

what passes through the oval foramen?

Answer 22

mandibular branch of trigeminal nerve

Question 23

what passes through the foramen lacerum?

Answer 23

loop of internal carotid artery

Question 24

what passes through the infraorbital foramen?

Answer 24

infraorbital artery, vein, and nerve as they EXIT the skull

Question 25

what passes through the maxillary foramen?

Answer 25

infraorbital artery, vein, and nerve as they ENTER the skull

Question 26

what passes through the mastoid foramen?

Answer 26

caudal meningeal artery and vein

Question 27

what passes through the sphenopalatine foramen?

Answer 27

sphenopalatine artery and vein

Question 28

what passes through the caudal palatine foramen?

Answer 28

major palatine artery, vein, nerve

Question 29

what passes through the fossa for the lacrimal gland?

Answer 29

naso-lacrimal canal for the naso-lacrimal duct

Question 30

be able to label the bones of the skull on each species (10)

Answer 30

1. incisive
2. nasal
3. maxilla
4. lacrimal
5. palatine
6. pterygoid
7. frontal
8. temporal
9. parietal
10. occipital

see notes!