Cranial Foramina & Contents

Question 1

Nasal slits

Answer 1

Anterior ethmoidal nerves, artery, and vein

Question 2

Superior orbital fissure

Answer 2

Cranial nerves III, IV, VI, and the three branches of V1 (opthalmic division dividing into nasolacrimal, lacrimal, and frontal nerves)
Superior ophthalmic veins
Recurrent meningeal branch from lacrimal artery
Orbital branch of middle meningeal artery
Sympathetic filaments from ICA plexus

Question 3

Inferior orbital fissure

Answer 3

Cranial nerve V2 (maxillary division)
Zygomatic nerve
Filaments from pterygopalatine branch of maxillary nerve
Infraorbital artery and vein
Vein between inferior ophthalmic vein and pterygoid venous plexus

Question 4

Foramen lacerum

Answer 4

Usually nothing (ICA traverses upper portion but never enters)
* 30% have the vidian artery running through

Question 5

Carotid canal

Answer 5

ICA

Ascending sympathetic nerves

Question 6

Incisive foramen

Answer 6

Descending septal artery

Nasopalatine nerves

Question 7

Greater palatine foramen

Answer 7

Greater palatine nerve, artery, and vein

Question 8

Lesser palatine foramen

Answer 8

Lesser palatine nerves

Question 9

Internal acoustic meatus

Answer 9

Cranial nerve VII, VIII

Question 10

Hypoglossal canal

Answer 10

Cranial nerve XII

Meningeal branch of ascending pharyngeal artery

Question 11

Foramen magnum

Answer 11

Spinal cord/medulla
Cranial nerve XI entering the skull
Vertebral arteries
Anterior and posterior spinal arteries

Question 12

Foramen cecum

Answer 12

Occasional small vein

Question 13

Cribriform plate

Answer 13

Olfactory nerve

Question 14

Optic canal

Answer 14

Cranial nerve II

Ophthalmic artery

Question 15

Foramen rotundum

Answer 15

Cranial nerve V2 (maxillary division)

Artery for foramen rotundum

Question 16

Foramen ovale

Answer 16

Cranial nerve V3 (mandibular division) and portio minor (motor part of cranial nerve V)

Question 17

Foramen spinosum

Answer 17

Middle meningeal artery and vein

Question 18

Jugular foramen

Answer 18

Internal jugular vein

Cranial nerve IX, X, XI

Question 19

Stylomastoid foramen

Answer 19

Cranial nerve VII

Stylomastoid artery

Question 20

Condyloid foramen

Answer 20

Vein from transverse sinus

Question 21

Mastoid foramen

Answer 21

Vein to mastoid sinus

Branch of occipital artery to dura mater