Intracranial Region

Question 1

Cranial fossae

- 3 of them

Answer 1

• Anterior
• Middle
• Posterior

Question 2

Anterior Cranial Fossa

- Contains the FRONTAL LOBE

Answer 2

Includes:-

• Frontal bone
• Ethmoid
• Lesser wing of Sphenoid

Question 3

Middle Cranial Fossa

- Contains the TEMPORAL LOBE

Answer 3

Includes:-

• Sphenoid (greater wings and body plus sinus)
• Petrous part of the temporal bone

Question 4

Posterior Cranial Fossa

- Contains the CEREBELLUM

Answer 4

Includes:-

• Temporal bone
• Occipital bone

Question 5

Sella Turcica

“Turkish Saddle”

Answer 5

Saddle like prominence crossing the midline on the superior surface of the body of the sphenoid
Contains the PITUITARY GLAND

Question 6

Cribiform plate

Answer 6

Structures passing through:

CN I - Olfactory Nerve

Question 7

Optic Canal

Answer 7

Structures passing through:

• CN II: Optic Nerve
• Opthalmic Artery

Question 8

Foramen Cecum

Answer 8

Structures passing through:

- Emissiary veins to the nasal cavity

Question 9

Superior Orbital Fossa

SOF

Answer 9

Structures passing through:
- Cranial nerves:
       CN III - Occulomotor
       CN IV - Trochlear
       CN V1 - Opthalmic branch of trigeminal 
       CN VI - Abducens
- Opthalmic veins

Question 10

Foramen Ovale

Answer 10

Structures passing through:

• CN V3 - Mandibular branch of the trigeminal
• lesser petrosal nerve

Question 11

Foramen Rotundum

Answer 11

Structures passing through:

- CN V2 - Maxillary branch of the trigeminal

Question 12

Foranen Spinosum

Answer 12

Structures passing through:

- MIDDLE MENINGEAL ARTERY

Question 13

Petrosal nerves:

• Greater
• Lesser

Answer 13

Greater travels through:
- Hiatus for the greater petrosal n.

Lesser travels through:
- Hiatus for the lesser petrosal n.

Question 14

Foramen Magnum

Answer 14

Structures passing through:

• End of brainstem/beginning of SPINAL CORD
• Vertebral Arteries
• Spinal roots of the accessory nerve (CN XI)
• Meninges
• Medulla Oblongata

Question 15

Internal Acoustic Meatus (IAM)

Answer 15

Structures passing through:

- Labyrinthine Artery

Question 16

Jugular Foramen

Answer 16

Structures passing through:

• Inferior petrosal sinus
• Sigmoidal sinus (forming the Internal Jugular Vein)

Question 17

Hypoglossal canal

Answer 17

Structures passing through::

- Meningeal branch of the Ascending Pharyngeal Artery

Question 18

Condylar Canal

Answer 18

Structures passing through:

- Emissary Vein

Question 19

Trigeminal Nerve - CN V
Made up of 3 branchs
Largest Cranial Nerve

Answer 19

CN V1 - Opthalmic branch (purely SENSORY)
CN V2 - Maxillary branch (purely SENSORY)
CN V3 - Mandibular nerve (SENSORY & MOTOR function)

Question 20

Meninges

- Made of 3 layers

Answer 20

• Dura Mater (tough)
• Arachnoid Mater
• Pia Mater

Question 21

Choroid Plexus

- Function

Answer 21

Makes CSF

Question 22

Dura Mater

• tough
• has 2 layers

Answer 22

Outermost of the meninges
Made of COLLAGEN FIBRES
Acts as a mechanically protective covering
2 layers:
- Periosteal layer
- Meningeal layer

Question 23

Arachnoid Mater

Answer 23

Delicate - small veins run between Dura and Arachnoid

Made of NON-VASCULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Question 24

Pia Mater

Answer 24

Continuous with the surface of the brain/cord
Supports the blood supply of the brain
Forms the Choroid plexus together with ependymal cells
CAN’T be seen with the naked eye

Question 25

Middle Meningeal Artery | - Rupture: can cause an Extradural/Epidural Haemorrhage

Answer 25

Largest of the 3 paired arteries supplying the meninges. Branch of the MAXILLARY ARTERY; a terminal branch of the EXTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY Runs through the Foramen Spinosum to supply the Dura Mater and the Calvaria Runs beneath the Pterion, where the skull is very thin

Question 26

Falx Cerebri

Answer 26

Fold of Dura Mater in the longitudinal fissure that separates the cerebral hemispheres

Question 27

Falx Cerebelli

Answer 27

Fold of the Dura Mater that separates the Cerebellar hemispheres

Question 28

Tentorium Cerebelli

Answer 28

Extension of the Dura Mater separating the cerebellum from the inferior portion of the Occipital lobes

Question 29

Dural Venous Sinuses

Answer 29

Spaces between Periosteal and Meningeal layers of dura containing venous blood. No valves in the venous sinuses Blood in the venous sinuses originates mostly from the Brain and Cranial cavity Drains via the Internal Jugular Vein

Question 30

Dural venous sinuses

Answer 30

- Superior sagittal sinus - Inferior sagittal sinus - Straight sinus - Cavernous - Sup & inf petrosal - Transverse & sigmoid sinuses

Question 31

Contents of Cavernous Sinus

Answer 31

- Carotid Artery - Cranial nerves: Occulomotor; Trochlear; Opthalmic; Maxillary; Abducens - Pituitary gland - Sympathetic nerve

Question 32

Extradural/ Epidural Haemorrhage - Location - Commonly occurs due to

Answer 32

Occurs between the Dura and the Skull Common following a blow to the side of the head Often due to the rupture of the Middle Meningeal Artery

Question 33

Middle Meningeal artery

Answer 33

3rd branch of the first part (retromandibular part) of the Maxillary Artery Which is one of the two terminal branches of the External Carotid Artery

Question 34

Subdural Haemorrhage

Answer 34

Occurs when veins crossing the subdural space bursts. Blood builds up between the dura mater and the arachnoid. Life threatening; blood may compress the brain Leads to:- - Loss of consciousness - Paralysis - Death Can be ACUTE or CHRONIC

Question 35

Subarachnoid Haemorrhage

Answer 35

Occurs between the Arachnoid and the Pia Mater

Question 36

CSF circultion

Answer 36

Formed in the Ventricles from the Choroid Plexus Exits from the vent sys. via openings in roof of 4th ventricle into sub-arachnoid space (Cisterna Magna) Re-absorbed via Arachnoid Granulations into systemic veins (e.g. sup sagittal sinus)

Question 37

Spinal cord meninges | - from outside to inside

Answer 37

- Dura Mater - Arachnoid - Pia Mater then white & grey matter