C.Riedinger 2011

What lies on the either side of the cranial foramina?

Name Location (bone) Structures passing through Other side Cribriform plate

Anterior cranial fossa (ethmoid)

Olfactory nerve (I) Ethmoidal air cells nasal cavity

Optic canal Anterior cranial fossa (sphenoid)

Optic nerve (II) Posterosuperomedial orbit

Superior orbital Fissure

Middle cranial fossa (sphenoid)

Occulomotor nerve (III) Trochlear nerve (IV) Opthalmic division of trigeminal n. (Va) Abducent nerve (VI)

Posteromedial orbit

Foramen Rotundum

Middle cranial fossa (sphenoid)

Maxillary division of the trigeminal n (Vb) Pterygopalatine fossa, Inferior orbital fissure

Foramen ovale

Middle cranial fossa (sphenoid)

Mandibular division of the trigeminal (Vc) Just on other side of sphenoid, More medial to temporomandibular joint =nasopharynx?

Foramen spinosum

Middle cranial fossa (sphenoid)

Middle meningeal artery Just on other side of sphenoid, Medial to temporomandibular joint =nasopharynx?

Foramen lacerum

Middle cranial fossa (sphenoid)

Internal carotid but NOT all the way through, exits instead via carotid canal

Just on other side, Between body of sphenoid, Basal part of occipital bone and temporal bone

Internal auditory meatus

Posterior cranial fossa (petrous part of temporal bone)

Facial nerve (VII) Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)

Through petrous part of temporal bone via middle ear to external auditory meatus

Jugular foramen

Posterior cranial fossa (between temporal and occipital bones)

Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) Vagus nerve (X) Accessory nerve (XI) Sigmoid sinus to inferior jugular vein

Medial to styloid process, Petrous part of temporal bone

Hypoglossal canal

Posterior cranial fossa (occipital bone)

Hypoglossal canal (XII) Just on other side of occiput, next to articular facet of atlanto-occipital joint

(Pictures taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Base_of_skull)