Foramens of the base of skull

What is foramen?- A foramen (pl. foramina) is an opening.- Foramina allow muscles, nerves, arteries, veins, or

other structures to connect one part of the body with another.

Superior view of

the cranial base

Inferior view of

the cranial base

Foramen Located in or Formed by

Structures Passing through

Incisive foramen

Maxilla (palatine process)

Nasopalatine n., sphenopalatine a.

Greater palatine foramen

Palatine Greater palatine n. and vessels

Lesser palatine foramina

Lesser palatine n. and vessels

Foramen ovale Sphenoid Mandibular division of thetrigeminal n., accessory meningeala., lesser petrosal n., emissary v.

Foramen spinosum

Middle meningeal vessels andmeningeal branch of themandibular division of thetrigeminal n.

Foramen rotundum

Maxillary division of thetrigeminal n.

Sphenoid foramen

Emissary v.

Foramen lacerum

Articulation of the sphenoid (greater wing and body), temporal (petrous portion), and occipital (basilar portion) bones

Nothing passes through itsphenoid Filled with fibrocartilage duringbody), temporal (petrous life (although the anterior wall of the foramen has an opening for the pterygoid canal and the posteriorwall has an opening for the carotid canal)

Mastoid foramen

Temporal (mastoidportion)

Emissary v. (sometimes branches of the occipital a.)

Opening for auditory tube

Temporal and sphenoid

Cartilaginous portion of theauditory tube

Tympanic canaliculus

Temporal Tympanic branch of theglossopharyngeal n.

Jugular foramen

Temporal (petrous portion) and occipital

Glossopharyngeal n., vagus n., spinal accessory n., inferiorpetrosal sinus, sigmoid sinus,posterior meningeal a.

Mastoid canaliculus

Temporal (within the jugular fossa)

Auricular branch of the vagus n.

Petrotympanic fissure

Temporal Chorda tympani n., anterior tympanic a.

Stylomastoid foramen

Facial n., stylomastoid a.

Tympanomastoid fissure

Auricular branch of the vagus n.

Hypoglossal canal

Occipital Hypoglossal n.

Condylar canal Emissary v., meningeal branches ofascending pharyngeal a.

Foramen magnum

Medulla oblongata, vertebralarteries, spinal roots of the spinalaccessory n.

Foramen cecum Between the frontal and ethmoid bones

Emissary v. from nasal cavity tothe superior sagittal sinus

Anterior ethmoid foramen

Anterior ethmoid n. and vessels

Posterior ethmoid foramen

Posterior ethmoid n. and vessels

Carotid canal Temporal (petrous portion)

Internal carotid a., internal carotidn. plexus (sympathetics)

Hiatus for the lesser petrosal n.

Lesser petrosal n.

Hiatus for the greater petrosal n.

Greater petrosal n.

Internal acoustic meatus

Facial n., vestibulocochlear n.,labyrinthine a.

Opening of the vestibular aqueduct

Endolymphatic duct