Ahmad Amro Baradee

Contents Foramina & Openings

1- Nasal emissary vein (to superior sagittal sinus)

2- Prolongation of dura mater Foramen Cecum

Olfactory nerve bundles Foramina Of Cribriform

Plate

On each side of crista galli formed by the cribriform plate ,

it helps to attach the olfactory lobe to the cribriform plate Olfactory Incisure

Prolongation of dura mater Ethmoidal Hiatus

Anterior ethmoid nerve & artery Anterior Ethmoid Foramen

1- Posterior ethmoid nerve & artery ( sphenoethmoidal

nerve) (Luschka nerve) innervates the ethmoidal cells and

the sphenoid sinus

2- Orbital branches of the pterygopalatine ganglion to

innervate the sphenoid sinus and the posterior ethmoidal

cells , and they innervate the periorbita and muscles of eye

by their sympathetic fibers

Posterior Ethmoid Foramen

1- Optic nerve

2- Ophthalmic artery(and the central retinal artery branch of the ophthalmic

artery) Optic Canal

1- Lacrimal nerve

2- Frontal nerve

3- Trochlear nerve

4- Superior ophthalmic vein (to the cavernous sinus)

The Superior Narrow Lateral

Part Of The Superior Orbital

Fissure

5- Abducent nerve

6- Nasocilliary nerve

7- Oculomotor nerve

8- Sympathetic branches of the cavernous plexus to the

ciliary ganglion

The Inferior Wide Medial

Part Of The Superior Orbital

Fissure

9- Orbital branch of the middle meningeal artery

10- Recurrent meningeal branch of lacrimal artery

11- One of the two branches of inferior ophthalmic vein

(the other is the infraorbital vein) the inferior ophthalmic

vein ends in the cavernous sinus with the superior

ophthalmic vein

Superior Orbital Fissure

Ahmad Amro Baradee

Surrounds the optic canal and the inferior part of the

superior orbital fissure , formed by the tendons of the eye's

muscles , pass through it:

1- Optic nerve

2- Ophthalmic artery

3- Abducent nerve

4- Nasocilliary nerve

5- Oculomotor nerve

Zinn's Ring

(Common Tendinous Ring)

1- Infraorbital nerve

2- Zygomatic nerve

3- Orbital branches of the pterygopalatine ganglion to

innervate the sphenoid sinus and the posterior ethmoidal

cells , and they innervate the periorbita and muscles of eye

by their sympathetic fibers

4- Infraorbital artery

5- Infraorbital vein to connect with the pterygoid plexus

(infraorbital vein is a branch of inferior ophthalmic vein)

6- Terminal branches of the deep anterior temporal artery

which is branch of maxillary artery

Inferior Orbital Fissure

(Lies in the sphenoid bone , medial to the foramen ovale by

an internal aspect of the base of the skull , lateral to the

scaphoid fossa by an external aspect ( exists in 17% of the

skulls )

A small emissary vein passes through this foramen (it

connects the extracranial pterygoid plexus with the

intracranial cavernous sinus )

Foramen Vesalii (Canaliculus

Sphenoidalis)

Maxillary nerve Foramen Rotundom

1- Mandibular nerve

2- Accessory meningeal artery (branch of maxillary to

nourish gasser's ganglion)

3- Lesser petrosal nerve (occasionally)

4- An emissary vein connects the extracranial pterygoid

plexus with the intracranial cavernous sinus

Foramen Ovale

1- Middle meningeal artery & vein

2- Meningeal branch of mandibular nerve Foramen Spinosum

Lesser petrosal nerve (occasionally) Sphenotemporal Fissure

Ahmad Amro Baradee

The foramen is occluded by cartilage , the internal carotid

artery travels superiorly to the cartilage. However , some

nerves,arteries and veins do pass through the cartilage:

1- Greater petrosal nerve (the deep & superficial then they combine in

the entrance of the pterygoid canal forming the nerve of pteryoid canal) 2- The artery of pterygoid canal

3- Meningeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery

4- Emissary veins connect the extracranial pterygoid plexus

with the intracranial cavernous sinus

Foramen Lacerum

Nerve and blood vessels of pterygoid canal (Vidian nerve) Pterygoid Canal(Vidian

Canal)

1- Internal carotid artery

2- Carotid sympathetic plexus

3- Venous plexus

Carotid Canal

1- Greater petrosal nerve

2- Petrosal branch of middle meningeal artery Greater Petrosal Groove

Lesser petrosal nerve Lesser Petrosal Groove

1- Medulla oblongata surrounded by meninges

2- Two vertebral arteries

3- Meningeal branches of vertebral arteries

4- Anterior spinal artery

5- Two posterior spinal arteries

6- Spinal root of accessory nerve

7- Ascending sympathetic branches

8- Emissary veins of basilar plexus

9- Apical ligament and tectorial membrane

Foramen Magnum

1- Anterior part: Glossopharyngeal nerve + inferior petrosal

sinus

2- Middle part: Vagus and accessory nerve + branch of posterior

meningeal artery (which is branch of ascending pharyngeal

artery ) + meningeal branch of occipital artery

3- Posterior part: Sigmoid sinus + superior bulb of jugular vein

Jugular Foramen

Located on the lateral wall of jugular foramen (on the

tympanomastoid fissure ) passes through it: The auricular branch of

vagus nerve

Mastoid Canaliculus

1- In the superior part: Facial nerve and it's branch , the

intermediate nerve >> pass together through the facial

canal (Fallopii canal)

2- In the inferior part: Vestibulocochlear nerve ( the

cochlear nerve runs antero-inferiorly & the vestibular nerve

runs postero-inferiorly )

Internal Auditory Meatus

Ahmad Amro Baradee

3- Labyrinthine artery

1- Endolymphatic duct

2- Vestibular vessels

3- Prolongation of dura mater

External Aperture Of The

Vestibular Aqueduct

Prolongation of dura mater with a small vein Subarcuate Fossa

Divided by an osteoid septum into two canals:

1- The superior canal: For the tensor muscle of the

tympanic membrane

2- The inferior canal: Is the auditory tube (Eustachian tube)

(which presents the osteoid part of auditory tube , the other

is chondroitic )

Musculotubal Canal

1- Exit: Chorda tympani nerve

2- Enter: Anterior tympanic artery (branch of maxillary) +

posterior tympanic artery (branch of stylomastoid)

Glasser Fissure

(Petrotympanic Fissure)

1- Posterior meningeal artery

2- Occipital emissary vein Condylar Canal

1- Hypoglossal nerve

2- Meningeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery

3- Emissary vein of basilar plexus

Hypoglossal Canal (Anterior

Condyloid Canal )

Gives origion to the posterior belly of the digastric muscle Mastoid Notch

For the occipital artery Notch Medial To Mastoid

Notch

Gives origin to the tensor veli palatini muscle Scaphoid Fossa

1- Parietal emissary vein

2- Branch of occipital artery Parietal Foramen

1- Mastoid emissary vein (to sigmoid sinus)

2- Mastoidal branch of occipital artery Mastoid Foramen

1- Exit: Facial nerve

2- Enter: Stylomastid artery (branch of either occipital

artery 66% or posterior auricular artery 33%)

Stylomastoid Foramen

The inferior ganglion of glossopharyngeal nerve (Andersch

ganglion) is situated in this fossula Petrosal Fossula

Opens in the bottom of tympanic fossula , through it enters

the tympanic nerve (Jacobson's nerve) branch of

glossopharyngeal nerve

Tympanic Canaliculus

(Jacobson Canaliculus)

1- Nasopalatine nerve

2- Nasal nervous branches of pterygopalatine ganglion

3- Sphenopalatine artery

Sphenopalatine Foramen

Ahmad Amro Baradee

"Connects the nasal cavity with the pterygopalatine fossa"

1- Pharyngeal artery branch of maxillary artery

2- Pharyngeal nerve (bock's nerve) branch of

pterygopalatine ganglion and it carries postsynapatic

parasympathetic fibres to mucus glands of nasopharynx

Palatovaginal Canal

(Pterygopalatine Canal)

(Pharyngeal Canal)

Pharyngeal branch of sphenopalatine artery Vomerovaginal Canal

Greater and lesser palatine nerves and blood vessels Greater Palatine Canal

(Pterygopalatine Canal)

1- Greater palatine nerve

2- Greater (descending) palatine artery (branch of

maxillary)

Greater Palatine Foramen

1- Lesser palatine nerve

2- Lesser palatine artery (branch of greater palatine artery) Lesser Palatine Foramen

Greater palatine artery – greater palatine nerve –and

palatine veins .. In this exact order

Two Or Three Grooves In

The Posterior Part Of Hard

Palate

1- Nasopalatine nerve

2- Terminal branch of greater palatine artery Incisive Foramen

Posterior superior alveolar nerves and arteries Alveolar Foramina Of

Maxilla

Supraorbital nerve and blood vessels Supraorbital Foramen

(Notch)

Supratrochlear nerve and blood vessels Frontal Notch

(Supratrochlear Notch)

Infratrochlear nerve passes by it Trochlear Fossula

Located within the supero-lateral wall of the orbit (of the

frontal bone) Lacrimal Gland's Fossa

Located within the infero-medial wall of the orbit (of the

lacrimal and maxillary bones) Lacrimal Sac's Fossa

Carries tears from the lacrimal sac into the inferior meatus

of the nasal cavity

Nasolacrimal Duct (Tear

Duct)

Infraorbital nerve and blood vessels Infraorbital Foramen

Zygomaticofacial nerve Zygomaticofacial Foramen

Zygomaticotemporal nerve Zygomaticotemporal

Foramen

Located infero-medial the inferior border of the orbit ,

through it passes a small artery branch of angular artery to

nourish the canine (exists in 1% of the skulls)

Parinaud Canal

Ahmad Amro Baradee

I hope this was helpful

By: Ahmad Amro Baradee

Mental nerve and blood vessels Mental Foramen

Nervous branches of the cervical plexus C1-C4 , innervate

the medial root of the first inferior molar

Foramina Opposite The

Mental Foramen (On The

Lingual Side )

Inferior alveolar nerve and blood vessels Mandibular Canal (Foramen)

Mylohyoid nerve and blood vessels Mylohyoid Groove

This foramen is formed by the free space between the

sphenomandibular ligament and the tympanomandibular

ligament* , through it passes the mylohyoid neurovascular

bundle (*the tympanomandibular ligament: Is a fibrous ligament

strengthens the posterior part of the sphenomandibular ligament)

Mylohyoid Foramen

Located in the intermediate line of the lingual surface of the

mandible , near the mental spines . Small blood vessels exit

through it

Lingual Foramen

Attachment for lateral pterygoid muscle Pterygoid Fovea

The maxillary artery passes through it to reach the

pterygomaxillary region

Juvara Groove (

Retrocondylar Groove )