Contents of the Major Foramina and Fissures

Question 1

Anterior Ethmoid Foramen

Answer 1

Anterior ethmoid n. and vessels.

Notes: Ethmoid

Question 2

Carotid Canal

Answer 2

Internal carotid a., internal carotid nerve, sympathetic plexus
Notes: Temporal (petrous portion)

Question 3

Condylar (Occipital) Canal

Answer 3

Emissaryv., meningeal branches of ascending pharyngeal a.

Notes: Occipital

Question 4

Cribriform Plate

Answer 4

CNI. from the olfactory bulb

Notes: Ethmoid

Question 5

Facial Canal

Answer 5

CN VII

Notes: Temporal (tympanic portion)

Question 6

Foramen Cecum*

Answer 6

Emissary v. from nasal cavity to teh superior sagittal sinus

Notes: Between the frontal and the ethmoid bones

Question 7

Foramen Lacerum

Answer 7

Nothing passes through it. Filled with fibrocartilage during life (the anterior wall of the foramen has an opening for the pterygoid canal (nerve of the pterygoid canal or Vidian n) and the posterior wall has an opening for the carotid canal.
Notes: Articulation of the sphenoid (greater wing and body), temporal (petrous portion), and occipital (basilar portion) bones

Question 8

Foramen magnum

Answer 8

Medulla oblongata, vertebral a., spinal vessels, spinal roots of CN XI
Notes: Occipital

Question 9

Foramen Ovale

Answer 9

V3, accessory meningeal a., lesser petrosal n., emissary v., otic ganglion just below
Notes: Sphenoid

Question 10

Foramen Rotundum

Answer 10

V2

Notes: Sphenoid

Question 11

Foramen Spinosum

Answer 11

Middle meningeal a. and v. and meningeal branch of V3

Notes: Sphenoid

Question 12

Greater Patlatine Foramen

Answer 12

Greater palatine n. and vessels

Notes: palatine

Question 13

Hiatus for the Greater Petrosal n.

Answer 13

Greater Ptrosal n.

Notes: Temporal (petrous portion)

Question 14

Hiatus for the lesser petrosal n.

Answer 14

Lesser petrosal n.

Notes: Temporal (petrous portion)

Question 15

Hypoglossal Canal

Answer 15

CNXII

Notes: Occipital

Question 16

Incisive Fossa/Foramen/Canal

Answer 16

Nasopalatine n., Sphenopalatine a.

Notes: Maxilla (palatine process)

Question 17

Inferior Orbital Fissure

Answer 17

Zygomatic n. and infraorital n. (of V2), ascending branches from pterygopalatine ganglion, infraorbital vessels, inferior ophthalmic v.
Notes: Between the greater wing of the shpenoid and maxilla and orbital portion of the palatine bones

Question 18

Infraorbital foramen

Answer 18

Infraorbital n. and vessels

Notes: Maxilla

Question 19

Internal Acoustic Meatus

Answer 19

CNVII, VIII, Labyrinthine a.

Noets: Temporal (petrous portion)

Question 20

Jugular Foramen

Answer 20

CNIX, X, XI, inferior petrosal sinus, sigmoid sinus, posterior meningeal a., internal jugular v.
Notes: Temporal

Question 21

Lesser Palatine Foramina

Answer 21

Lesser palatine n. and vessels

Notes: Palatine

Question 22

Mandibular Foramen/Canal

Answer 22

Inferior Alveolar n. and vessels

Notes: Mandible

Question 23

Mastoid Canaliculus*

Answer 23

Auricular branch of CNX

Notes: Temporal (mastoid portion)(within the jugular fossa)

Question 24

Mastoid Foramen

Answer 24

Emissary v.

Notes: Temporal (mastoid portion)

Question 25

Mental Foramen

Answer 25

Mental n. and vessels | Notes: Mandible

Question 26

Nasolacrimal Canal/Groove

Answer 26

Nasolacrimal duct | Notes: Lacrimal and Maxilla

Question 27

Opening for Auditory Tube

Answer 27

Carilaginous portion of the auditory tube | Notes: Temporal and sphenoid

Question 28

Optic Foramen/Canal

Answer 28

CNII, ophthalmic a. | Notes: Sphenoid

Question 29

Palatovaginal or Pharyngeal Canal

Answer 29

``` Pharyngeal nerve (from V2), pharyngeal a. Notes: Vomer (Pterygopalatine Fossa) ```

Question 30

Mastoid Foramen

Answer 30

Emissary v. | Notes: Temporal (mastoid portion)

Question 31

Mental Foramen

Answer 31

Mental n. and vessels | Notes: Mandible

Question 32

Nasolacrimal Canal/Groove

Answer 32

Nasolacrimal duct | Notes: Lacrimal and Maxilla

Question 33

Opening for Auditory Tube

Answer 33

Cartilaginous portion of the auditory tube | Notes: Temporal and sphenoid

Question 34

Optic Foramen/Canl

Answer 34

CNII, ophthalmic a. | Notes: Sphenoid

Question 35

Palatovaginal or Pharyngeal Canal

Answer 35

``` Pharyngeal nerve (from B2), pharyngeal a. Notes: Vomer (Pterygopalatine fossa) ```

Question 36

Petrotympanic Fissure

Answer 36

Chorda tympani n., anterior tympanic a. | Notes: Temporal (squamous portion)

Question 37

Posterior Ethmoid Foramen

Answer 37

Posterior ethmoid n. and vessels | Notes: Ethmoid

Question 38

Posterior Superior Alveolar Foramina

Answer 38

PSA n., PSA a., Pterygoid plexus | Notes: Maxilla

Question 39

Pterygoid Canal or Vidian Canal

Answer 39

Nerve to the pterygoid canal or Vidian n., Pterygoid a. | Notes: Sphenoid

Question 40

Pterygomaxillary Fissure

Answer 40

PSA n. (from V2), PSA a. and v., 3rd part of maxillary a., pterygoid plexus Notes: Entrance to pterygopalatine fossa

Question 41

Sphenopalatine Foramen

Answer 41

``` Nasopalatine n (from V2), sphenopalatine (nasopalatine) vessels Notes: Sphenoid and Palatine (Pterygopalatine fossa) ```

Question 42

Sphenoidal Emissary Foramen*

Answer 42

Emissary v. | Notes: Sphenoid (Pterygoid plexus to cavernous sinus)

Question 43

Stylomastoid Foramen

Answer 43

CNVII, stylomastoid a. | Notes: Temporal (mastoid portion)

Question 44

Superior Orbital Fissure

Answer 44

CNIII, IV, V1, VI, superior ophthalmic v., sympathetic fibers from cavernous plexus Notes: Between the greater and the lesser wings of the sphenoid

Question 45

Suptraorbital Foramen/Notch

Answer 45

Supraorbitaln. (of V1) and vessels, supratrochlear n. (of V1) and vessels Notes: Frontal

Question 46

Tympanic Canaliculus

Answer 46

Tympmanic branch of CNIX | Notes: Temporal (tympanic portion)

Question 47

Tympanomastoid Fissure*

Answer 47

Auricular branch of CNX | Notes: Temporal (mastoid portion)

Question 48

Zygomaticofacial Foramen

Answer 48

Zygomaticofacial n. and vessels | Notes: Zygomatic

Question 49

Zygomaticotemporal Foramen

Answer 49

Zygomatictemporal n. and vessels | Notes: Zygomatic