Foramina in the Skull
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D) Foramina in the front of the skull
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Foramina in the Skull
- Include the following, which are presented here with the structures that pass through them:
- Cribriform plate : olfactory nerves.
- Foramen cecum : occasional small emissary vein from nasal mucosa to superior sagittal sinus.
- Anterior and posterior ethmoidal foramina : anterior and posterior ethmoidal nerves, arteries, and veins.
- Optic canal : optic nerve, ophthalmic artery, and central artery and vein of the retina.
- Superior orbital fissure : oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves; ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve; and ophthalmic veins.
- Foramen rotundum : maxillary division of trigeminal nerve.
- Foramen ovale : mandibular division of trigeminal nerve, accessory meningeal artery, and occasionally lesser petrosal nerve.
- Foramen spinosum : middle meningeal artery.
- Foramen lacerum : nothing passes through this foramen, but the upper part is traversed by the internal carotid artery and greater and deep petrosal nerves en route to the pterygoid canal.
- Carotid canal : internal carotid artery and sympathetic nerves (carotid plexus).
- Hiatus of facial canal : greater petrosal nerve.
- Internal auditory meatus : facial and vestibulocochlear nerves and labyrinthine artery.
- Jugular foramen : glossopharyngeal, vagus, and spinal accessory nerves and beginning of internal jugular vein.
- Hypoglossal canal : hypoglossal nerve and meningeal artery.
- Foramen magnum : spinal cord, spinal accessory nerve, vertebral arteries, venous plexus of vertebral canal, and anterior and posterior spinal arteries.
- Condyloid foramen : condyloid emissary vein.
- Mastoid foramen : branch of occipital artery to dura mater and mastoid emissary vein.
D) Foramina in the front of the skull
- Zygomaticofacial foramen : zygomaticofacial nerve.
- Supraorbital notch or foramen : supraorbital nerve and vessels.
- Infraorbital foramen : infraorbital nerve and vessels.
- Mental foramen : mental nerve and vessels.
- Petrotympanic fissure : chorda tympani and often anterior tympanic artery.
- Stylomastoid foramen : facial nerve.
- Incisive canal : nasopalatine nerve and terminal part of the sphenopalatine or greater palatine vessels.
- Greater palatine foramen : greater palatine nerve and vessels.
- Lesser palatine foramen : lesser palatine nerve and vessels.
- Palatine canal : descending palatine vessels and the greater and lesser palatine nerves.
- Pterygoid canal : runs from the anterior wall of the foramen lacerum to the pterygopalatine fossa and transmits the nerve of the pterygoid canal (vidian nerve).
- Sphenopalatine foramen : sphenopalatine vessels and nasopalatine nerve.
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