Foramen |
Structures Conducted |
Cranial Fossa |
Cranial Bone |
Cribriform foramina in cribriform plate |
|
Anterior cranial fossa |
Ethmoid bone |
Optic canal |
- Optic nerve (CN II)
- Ophthalmic artery
|
Middle cranial fossa |
Sphenoid bone |
Superior orbital fissure |
- Lacrimal nerve
- Frontal nerve- branch of ophthalmic nerve of trigeminal nerve (CN V)
- Superior ophthalmic vein
- Trochlear nerve (CN IV)
- Superior division of the oculomotor nerve (CN III)
- Nasociliary nerve- branch of ophthalmic nerve (CN V1)
- Inferior division of the oculomotor nerve (CN III)
- Abducens nerve (CN VI)
- A branch of the Inferior ophthalmic vein
|
Middle cranial fossa |
Sphenoid bone |
Foramen rotundum |
- Maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve (CN V)
|
Middle cranial fossa |
Sphenoid bone |
Foramen ovale |
- Mandibular branch of trigeminal nerve (CN V)
|
Middle cranial fossa |
Sphenoid bone |
Foramen spinosum |
- Middle meningeal artery
- Middle meningeal vein
- Meningeal branch of CN V3
|
Middle cranial fossa |
Sphenoid bone |
Internal acoustic meatus |
- Facial nerve (CN VII)
- Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
- Vestibular ganglion
- Labyrinthine artery
|
Middle cranial fossa |
Petrous part of temporal bone |
Jugular foramen |
- Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
- Vagus nerve (CN X)
- Accessory nerve (CN XI)
- Jugular bulb
- Inferior petrosal and sigmoid sinuses
|
Posterior cranial fossa |
Anterior aspect: Petrous portion of the temporal
Posterior aspect: Occipital bone |
Hypoglossal canal |
- Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
|
Posterior cranial fossa |
Occipital bone |
Foramen magnum |
- Vertebral arteries
- Medulla and meninges
- CN XI (spinal division)
- Dural veins
- Anterior and posterior spinal arteries
|
Posterior cranial fossa |
Occipital bone |