UNIT 3:skull - fossa + foramina Flashcards
What bones are in the three sections of the cranial fossa?
anterior: frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid
middle: sphenoid, temporal, parietal
posterior: sphenoid, temporal, parietal, occipital
Which 2 foramina are found in the anterior cranial fossa?
foramen caecum
foramina of the cribriform plate
Which vessels/ veins pass through the foramina in the anterior cranial fossa?
foramen caecum - emissary vein - drains into superior sagittal sinus
foramina of cribriform plate - nerve endings of the olfactory nerve (CN I)
Name a mnemonic used to remember the foramina in the middle cranial fossa
‘O so frosty’ LC
list the foramina found in the middle cranial fossa
- optic canal
- superior orbital fissure
- foramen rotundum
- foramen ovale
- foramen spinosum
- foramen lacerum
- carotid canal
What passes through the optic canal?
- optic nerve (CN II)
- ophthalmic artery
What passes through the superior orbital fissure?
- nerves to eye - (CN III, IV, VI)oculomotor, trochlear, abducens)
- opthalmic nerve (1st division of CN V - trigeminal)
What passes through the foramen rotundum?
maxillary nerve (2nd division of CN V - trigeminal)
What passes through the foramen ovale?
mandibular nerve (3rd division of CN V - trigeminal) - lesser petrosal nerve (branch of CN IX- glossopharyngeal)
What passes through the foramen spinosum?
middle meningeal artery
What passes through the foramen lacerum?
greater petrosal nerve (branch of CN VII - facial)
What passes through the carotid canal?
internal carotid artery
Name the 4 foramina found in the posterior cranial fossa
- internal acoustic meatus
- jugular foramen
- hypoglossal canal
- foramen magnum
what passes through the internal acoustic meatus?
facial and vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VII + VIII)
what passes through the jugular foramen?
glossopharyngeal, vagus, spinal accessory nerve (CN IX< X, XI)
internal jugular vein
