Cranium Anatomy

Question 1

What passes through the optic canal?

Answer 1

CN II (optic nerve)

Question 2

What is the function of the optic nerve?

Answer 2

carries visual information from the retina of the eye back to the brain (allowing for vision)

Question 3

What passes through the superior orbital fissure?

Answer 3

CN III (occulomotor)
CN IV (trochlear)
CN V1 (branch of the trigeminal)
CN VI (abducens)

Question 4

Which of the nerves that pass though the superior orbital fissure control the orbital muscles that move the eyeand constrict the pupil?

Answer 4

CN III (occulomotor)
CN IV (trochlear)
CN VI (abducens)

Question 5

What is the role of the V1 branch of the trigeminal nerve?

Answer 5

transmits information from the ipsilateral forehead and scalp to the brainstem

Question 6

What passes through the foramen ovale?

Answer 6

V3 of the trigeminal nerve (mandibular branch)

Question 7

What passes through the foramen spinosum?

Answer 7

middle meningeal artery

Question 8

How does the internal carotid artery enter the cranial vault?

Answer 8

carotid foramen–> through a bony canal–> carotid canal

Question 9

Does the internal carotid artery pass through the foramen lacerum?

Answer 9

NO (it is flocked by CT)

Question 10

What passes through the internal auditory meatus?

Answer 10

Cranial nerve VII (facial)

Cranial Nerve VIII (vestibulocochlear)

Question 11

How does the CN VII (facial nerve) exit the calvaria?

Answer 11

stylomastoid foramen

Question 12

How does the CN VIII (vestibulocochlear nerve) exit the cranial vault?

Answer 12

external auditory meatus

Question 13

What exits the skull via the jugular foramen?

Answer 13

CN IX (glossopharyngeal)
CN X (vagus)
CN XI (accessory)

Question 14

Where do the spinal branches of the accessory nerve (CN XI) enter the cranium?

Answer 14

foramen magnum

Question 15

What exits the calvarium via the hypoglossal canal?

Answer 15

CN XII (hypoglossal)

Question 16

What bony prominences in the skull can rub against and injure the brain with rapid acceleration or deceleration?

Answer 16

lesser wing of the sphenoid bone

petrous ridge of the temporal bone

Question 17

What do the external carotid arteries supply?

Answer 17

face, scalp and meninges overlying hte brain

Question 18

How do the internal carotid arteries enter the cranial vault?

Answer 18

ascend and travel through the carotid canal and enter along with the cavernous sinus

Question 19

What occurs as soon as the internal carotid artery is in the cranial vault?

Answer 19

it makes a hairpin turn backwards and splits into the MCA and ACA (middle and anterior cerebral arteries)

Question 20

What arteries branch off near the apex of the hairpin turn of the internal carotid and are considered to be their first branches?

Answer 20

opthalmic arteries

Question 21

What is the origin of the vertebral arteries?

Answer 21

right and left subclavian arteries

Question 22

Through what do the vertebral arteries enter the cranial vault?

Answer 22

foramen magnum

Question 23

Where do the two vertebral arteries join?

Answer 23

at the junction of the medulla and pons

Question 24

What is the artery called that is formed when the vertebral arteries join at the junction of the medulla and pons?

Answer 24

basillar artery

Question 25

What connects the internal carotid artery to the posterior cerebral arteries in the circle of Willis?

Answer 25

posterior communicating arteries

Question 26

What do the anterior communicating arteries connect in the circle of Willis?

Answer 26

anterior cerebral arteries

Question 27

To what vessels do the anterior cerebral arteries attach to to complete the circle?

Answer 27

the internal carotid arteries

Question 28

What are the Medial and lateral lenticulostriate arteries?

Answer 28

tiny branchings of the middle cerebral artery

Question 29

From what artery does the middle cerebral artery arise?

Answer 29

internal carotid artery

Question 30

From what artery do the superior cerebellar arteries arise?

Answer 30

first major arteries from the basillar artery

Question 31

From what artery do the pontine branches arise?

Answer 31

Basillar artery

Question 32

From what artery does the anterior inferior cerebellar artery arise?

Answer 32

Basilar

Question 33

From what artery does the posterior inferior cerebellar artery arise?

Answer 33

Vertebral artery

Question 34

What does the opthalmic artery serve?

Answer 34

orbit

Question 35

What do the middle cerebral arteries supply?

Answer 35

lateral surface of the cortex Basal Ganglia Internal Capsule

Question 36

What do the anterior cerebral arteries supply?

Answer 36

medial surface of frontal and parietal lobes

Question 37

What doe the posterior cerebral arteries supply?

Answer 37

medial surface of temporal and occipital lobes | Thalamus (midbrain)

Question 38

What does the basilar artery supply?

Answer 38

pons

Question 39

What do the vertebral arteries supply?

Answer 39

lateral caudal medulla

Question 40

What does the anterior spinal artery supply?

Answer 40

paramedian medulla | anterior 2/3 of spinal cord

Question 41

What do the posterior spinal arteries supply?

Answer 41

posterior columns of medulla | posterior 1/3 of spinal cord