What is contained in the anterior cranial fossa?
frontal lobes
What is the primary foramen of the anterior cranial fossa?
cribriform plate: supports the olfactory bulbs and CN1
What does the middle cranial fossa contain?
temporal lobes and pituitary gland
What does the posterior cranial fossa contain?
brainstem and cerebellum
What is in the superior orbital fissure of the middle fossa?
Oculomotor n (CN III) trochlear n (CN IV) Ophthalmic n (CN V) Abducen n (CN VI)
What is in the optic canal of the middle fossa?
Optic n (CN III) Ophthalmic artery
What is in the foramen rotundum of the middle fossa?
Maxillary nerve (V2)
What is in the foramen ovale of the middle fossa?
Mandibular n (V3)
What is in the carotid canal of the middle fossa?
internal carotid artery
internal carotid nervous plexus (sympathetic)
What is in the foramen spinous of the middle fossa?
middle menial artery
What is in the internal acoustic meatus of the posterior fossa?
facial nerve (CN VII) Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
What is in the jugular foramen of the posterior fossa?
sigmoid sinus
glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
vagus nerve (CN X)
accessory nerve CN (XI)
What is in the hypoglossal canal of the posterior fossa?
hypoglossal n (CN XII)
What is in the foramen magnum of the posterior fossa?
vertebral arteries
accessory nerves (spinal contribution to CN XI)
anterior and posterior spinal arteries
What are the foramina of anterior fossa?
foramina in the cribriform plate
What are the foramina of middle fossa?
superior orbital fissure optic canal foramen rotundum foramen ovale carotid canal foramen spinosum
What are the foramina of posterior fossa?
internal acoustic meatus
jugular foramen
hypoglossal canal
foramen magnum
CN I name and function?
olfactory
special sense of smell
CN II name and function?
optic
special sense vision
CN III name and function?
oculomotor
motor to most extraocular muscles of they and parasympathetic to the pupillary sphincter and ciliary muscles of the eye
CN IV name and function?
trochlear
motor to superior oblique muscle of the eye
CN V name and function?
trigeminal ophthalmic division (V1): sensory to scalp, forehead, and nose, cornea and conductive of the eye Maxillary division (V2): sensory to cheeks, lower eye lid, nasal mucosa, upper lip, upper teeth and palate Mandibular division (V3): sensory to anterior 2/3 of tongue, chin, and lower teeth. Motor to the muscles of mastication (chewing)
CN VI name and function?
Abducens
motor to lateral rectus muscle of the eye
CN VII name and function?
facial
special sense of test form the anterior 2/3 of tongue. motor to muscles of facial expression. parasympathetic to lacrimal submandibular and sublingual salivary glands
CN VIII name and function?
vestibulocochlear
special sense of hearing and balance
CN IX name and function?
glossopharyngeal
sensory to posterior 1/3 of tongue, palate and oropharynx (afferent limb of gag reflex). motor to pharynx (swallowing). special sense of taste from posterior 1/3 of tongue. parasympathetic to the parotid salivary gland
CN X name and function?
vagus
sensory to external ear, larynx and esophagus. motor to the muscle of the pharynx, larynx, palate and esophagus (speech and swallowing efferent limb of gag reflex)
parasympathetic to thoracic and abdominal organs
CN XI name and function?
spinal accessory
motor to sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles
CN XII name and function?
hypoglossal
motor to intrinsic and extrinsic muscle of the tongue