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Regional Anatomy > Cranial fossa + nerves > Flashcards

Cranial fossa + nerves Flashcards

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1
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A
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3
Q

what is found in anterior cranial fossa?

A

frontal lobes

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4
Q

crista galli?
cribiform plate?
nerves?

A

Crista galli = a bony ridge formed by the frontal bone that provides attachment for the dura mater

Cribriform plate = part of the ethmoid bone, in life it has the olfactory bulbs lying on its superior surface

The olfactory nerves project up from the nasal cavity through the cribriform plate to join the olfactory bulb (CN I)

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5
Q

sphenoid bone anterior fossa?
what passes through here?

which skull area?

A

Sphenoid bone = contains the optic canals in anterior fossa

optic nerves (CNII) + ophthalmic artery (pass between the orbit + inside of the skull)

this part of sphenoid contributes to anterior fossa

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6
Q

which skull area is this?

Label

A

middle fossa

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7
Q

sphenoid bone middle cranial fossa?

A

The sphenoid bone also contributes to the floor of the middle cranial fossa —> forms orbital fissures, foramen rotundum, foramen ovale and foramen spinosum

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8
Q

trigeminal nerve middle cranial fossa?

Pathway of branches?

A

The trigeminal nerve forms a large ganglia that sits on the floor of the middle cranial fossa. Here it divides into its 3 divisions V1 ophthalmic, V2 maxillary and V3 mandibular.

V1 is a sensory nerve = passes through the superior orbital fissure to reach the orbit. It is accompanied by CN III oculomotor, CN IV trochlear and CN VI abducent as they also use the superior orbital fissure to enter the orbit

V2 also sensory = pass through foramen rotundum towards maxilla

V3 = motor + sensory fibres through foramen ovale to infratemporal fossa

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9
Q

what structures pass through foramen ovale?

A

CN V3, otic ganglion (actually sitting at the exit of the foramen in the infratemporal fossa), the accessory meningeal artery, the lesser petrosal nerve and emissary veins

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10
Q

what passes through foramen spinosum?

Foramen lacerum?

A

Foramen spinosum = middle meningeal artery, a branch of the maxillary artery that supplies blood to the dura

Foramen lacerum = internal carotid artery to enter the middle cranial fossa

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11
Q

which brain lobe is in middle cranial fossa

A

temporal tobes

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12
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13
Q

how does internal carotid artery enter the skull?

A

Internal carotid artery enters the skull via the carotid canal, it then turns away from the canal and enters the top of the foramen lacerum.

It does not pass all of the way through the foramen lacerum

The artery then lies either side of the body of the sphenoid bone where it will enter the cavernous venous sinus before contributing to the circle of Willis

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14
Q

which area of the skull is this
formed by which bones?
label

A

posterior cranial fossa

The temporal bone contributes to the floors of both the middle and posterior cranial fossae, but it is the occipital bone that forms most of the floor of the posterior fossa

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15
Q

which bone is jugular foramen found in?

and what else?

A

occipital bone

also foramen magnum + hypoglossal canals

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16
Q

what passes through jugular foramen?
foramen magnum?
hypoglossal canal?

A

jugular foramen = IJV, glossopharyngeal, vagus + accessory nerves

foramen magnum = spinal cord, vertebral arteries + spinal part of accessory nerve

hypoglossal canal = hypoglossal nerve

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17
Q

which part of brain is found in posterior cranial fossa?

A

The cerebellum lies in the posterior cranial fossa

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18
Q

label
where is this structure found?
what passes through?

A

Sitting in the petrous part of the temporal bone is the internal acoustic meatus.

IAM = facial nerve + vestibulocochlear nerve (exit cranial cavity and enter the temporal bone)

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19
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20
Q
A

Note how the trigeminal nerve (CN V) forms a ganglion before dividing into its 3 divisions

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21
Q

CN I?
pathway?
unique?

A

Olfactory nerve

from olfactory mucosa –> through cribriform plate to synapse in olfactory bulb –> olfactory tracts to prepiriform area of amygdala (primary olfactory cortex)

Only sensory system not relayed through thalamus

(so the actual olfactory nerves pass from the mucosa in the nose through the cribriform plate to synapse in the olfactory bulb - what is seen on the surface of the brain is the olfactory bulb and tract not the nerves themselves)

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22
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23
Q

CN II?

Pathway?

A

Optic nerve

From the retina through optic canal, form chiasm then optic tracts

90% fibres to lateral geniculate body (thalamus) then striate area (visual cortex of occipital lobe)

10% along medial root (non-geniculate) unconscious regulation

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24
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CN III? Pathway? Function?
Occulomotor nerve from midbrain through superior orbital fissure to orbit Runs in lateral wall of cavernous dural venous sinus Through annular ring Somatic motor and parasympathetic (visceral efferent) ---> Motor to = inferior oblique, superior rectus, inferior rectus and medial rectus, levator palpabrae Parasympathetic to = sphincter pupillae and ciliary muscle Superior division = levator palpabrae and superior rectus
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annular ring of orbit? | what passes through?
ring of Zinn - lies in the posterior part of the orbit and provides attachment for the recti muscles of the eye occulomotor nerve passes through
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trochlear nerve pathway? + runs through unique? (2) function?
from midbrain --> superior orbital fissure --> orbit runs in lateral all of cavernous dural venous sinus, OUTSIDE annular ring only cranial nerve where all fibres cross to opposite side only cranial nerve from posterior surface of midbrain - longest intracranial (dural) route of cranial nerves function = motor fibres to superior oblique
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Trigeminal nerve pathway? function? which branches act as carriers?
Originates from the pons, forms a ganglion and divides into 3 divisions CN V1 = ophthalmic enters orbit through superior orbital fissure CN V2 = maxillary enters pterygopalatine fossa through foramen rotundum CN V3 = mandibular through foramen ovale to inferior surface of the base of the skull function = Motor and sensory Lacrimal (CN V1), zygomatic (CN V2) lingual and auriculotemporal (CN V3) allow passage of parasympathetic fibres from other cranial nerves
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opthalmic division trigeminal function? | found?
Ophthalmic division (CN V1) = general sensory for eye, lacrimal gland, eyebrow, skin of forehead, nose Run in lateral wall of cavernous dural venous sinus
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maxillary division trigeminal function? | found?
Maxillary division (CN V2) = general sensory for skin of cheek, lower lid, upper jaw (and teeth), side of nose, mucosa of mouth Run in lateral wall of cavernous dural venous sinus
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mandibular division trigeminal function?
Mandibular division (CN V3) = sensory to ear canal, parotid gland, lower jaw and teeth. Motor to muscles of mastication, anterior belly of digastric, mylohyoid, tensor tympani, veli tensor palatini
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CN VI abducent nerve pathway? | function?
Originates from the pons and passes through the superior orbital fissure to reach the orbit Passes through cavernous dural venous sinus with internal carotid artery Through annular ring Motor to lateral rectus
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what is this? | label
cavernous venous sinus Note CN III, IV and V pass in the lateral wall of the sinus but CN VI runs through the middle with the internal carotid artery
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facial nerve pathway? branches? function?
Originates from the pons, through internal acoustic meatus into temporal bone Greater petrosal, stapedial and chorda tympani Motor fibres to muscles of facial expression leave via stylomastoid foramen = temporal, zygomatic, buccal, mandibular and cervical posterior auricular Stapedius, stylohyoid and posterior belly of digastric
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CN VIII vestibulocochlear type? | pathway?
Special somatic afferent Vestibular apparatus and auditory apparatus through internal auditory meatus to pons/medulla oblongata
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glossopharyngeal pathway? | function?
Originates from the medulla oblongata and passes through jugular foramen Parasympathetic to parotid, buccal and labial (lip) glands Taste from posterior 1/3rd tongue Motor to pharyngeal plexus and stylopharyngeus Sensory to posterior 1/3rd tongue, soft palate, pharynx, tympanic cavity, membrane, pharyngotympanic tube , external ear and auditory canal
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vagus nerve pathway? | function?
Originates from the medulla oblongata and passes through the jugular foramen Cranial, cervical, thoracic and abdominal distribution Motor to pharyngeal plexus, soft palate, larynx Parasympathetic to thoracic and abdominal viscera Sensory to dura (post cranial fossa), ear, external auditory canal, lower pharynx, laryngeal mucosa, thoracic and abdominal viscera
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branches of?
vagus The vagus nerve sends a recurrent laryngeal branch that wraps around the aortic arch on the left and the subclavian artery on the right. The nerves then ascend the neck between the oesophagus and the trachea to supply the intrinsic muscles of the larynx. The vagus nerve also joins the pharyngeal plexus (motor part of gag reflex) and supplies innervation to parts of the larynx.
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accessory nerve pathway? | function?
spinal part comes from spinal cord, passes into the skull via the foramen magnum, joins cranial root from medulla then pass through jugular foramen Motor to trapezius and sternocleidomastoid ‘Cranial root’ now considered part of vagus nerve (motor to soft palate)
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accessory nerve
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hypoglossal nerve pathway? | function?
Originates from the medulla oblongata (ant. to olive) passes through hypoglossal canal Enters root of tongue above hyoid bone Motor to all intrinsic muscles of the tongue and all extrinsic except palatoglossus
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hypoglossal
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Regional Anatomy (14 decks)

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