Skull Foramina

Question 1

Foremen rotundum

Answer 1

Structures passing between middle cranial fossa and pterygopalatine fossa.

Structures:

Maxillary branch (V2) of the trigeminal nerve (CNV)

Question 2

Foremen ovale

Answer 2

Structures passing between middle cranial fossa and infratemporal fossa:

Structures:
1) Mandibular branch (V3) of trigeminal nerve (CNV)
2) accessory meningeal artery
3) Lesser petrosal nerve
4) emissary vein

Question 3

Carotid canal

Answer 3

Structures passing between middle cranial fossa and the neck.

Structures:
Internal carotid artery

Question 4

Foremen spinosum

Answer 4

Structures passing between middle cranial fossa and infratemporal fossa

Structures:
Middle meningeal artery

Question 5

Jugular foramen

Answer 5

Structures passing between posterior cranial fossa and neck

Structures:
1) Internal jugular vein
2) Glossopharyngeal nerve (CNIX)
3) Vagus nerve (CNX)
4) Accessory nerve (CNXI)
5) sigmoid sinus
6) inferior petrosal sinus

Question 6

Foramen magnum

Answer 6

Structures passing between posterior cranial fossa and neck.

Structures:
• end of brain stem and beginning of spinal cord
• Vertebral arteries
• spinal roots of accessory nerve [CNX] pass from upper region of spinal cord through the foramen magnum into the cranial cavity and then leave the cranial cavity through the jugular foramen
•meninges

Question 7

Cribriform plate

Answer 7

Connects Anterior cranial fossa and nasal cavity

Structures:
Foramina in the cribriform plate allow the passage of the olfactory nerve (CNI)

Question 8

Optic canal

Answer 8

Connects middle cranial fossa and orbit

Structures:
Optic nerve (CNII)
Ophthalmic artery

Question 9

Superior orbital fissure

Answer 9

Structures:
1) Oculomotor nerve (CNIII)
2) Trochlear nerve (CNIV)
3) Opthalmic branch (V1) of trigeminal nerve
4) Abducens nerve (CNVI)
5) superior opthalmic vein

Question 10

Foramen lacerum

Answer 10

Fills with cartilage in life

Question 11

Internal acoustic meatus

Answer 11

Connects posterior cranial fossa and ear & neck

Structures:
1) Facial nerve (CNVII)
2) Vestibulocochlear nerve (CNVIII)
3) labyrinthine artery and vein

Question 12

Hypoglossal canal

Answer 12

Connects posterior cranial fossa and neck

Structures:
Hypoglossal nerve (CNXII)
Meningeal branch of ascending pharyngeal artery

Question 13

Stylomastoid Foramen

Answer 13

Facial nerve (CNVII)

Question 14

Foramen cecum

Answer 14

Emissary veins to nasal cavity

Question 15

Hiatus for greater petrosal nerve

Answer 15

Greater petrosal nerve

Question 16

Hiatus for lesser petrosal nerve

Answer 16

Lesser petrosal nerve

Question 17

Condylar canal

Answer 17

Emissary vein

Question 18

Supra-orbital foramen

Answer 18

Supra-orbital nerve and vessels

Question 19

Infra-orbital Foramen

Answer 19

Infra-orbital nerve and vessels

Question 20

Mental Foramen

Answer 20

Mental nerve and vessels

Question 21

Zygomaticofacial foramen

Answer 21

Zygomaticofacial nerve and vessels

Question 22

Parietal foramen

Answer 22

Emissary veins

Question 23

Incisive foramen

Answer 23

Nasopalatine nerve
sphenopalatine vessels

Question 24

Greater palatine foramen

Answer 24

Greater palatine nerve and vessels

Question 25

Lesser palatine foramen

Answer 25

Lesser palatine nerves and vessels

Question 26

Pterygoid canal

Answer 26

Nerve of pterygoid canal and vessels