Case Dental Head And Neck Openings Of The Skull And What They Transmit

Front 1

Carotid Canal

Back 1

Internal Carotid Artery,
Deep Petrosal Nerve (CN VII with CN V2),
Other postganglionic sympathetics (Carotid Plexus)

Front 2

Crib Reform Plate

Back 2

Olfactory nerves (CN1)

Front 3

Facial Canal

Back 3

Facial Nerve proper (SVE and GSA only)

Front 4

Foramen Cecum

Back 4

Emissary vein from nasal cavity to superior sagital sinus

Front 5

Foramen Lacerum

Back 5

Meningeal branch of ascending pharyngeal artery,
Emissary vein from pterygoid venous plexus,
Greater Supervicial petrosal nerve (CN VII)
Deep petrosal nerve from carotid plexus (CN VII)

Front 6

Foramen Magnum

Back 6

Spinal arteries/veins
Alar ligaments
Apical ligament
Spinal Accessory Nerve (CN XI)

Front 7

Foramen Ovale

Back 7

V3 (mandibular)
Accessory meningeal artery
Lesser Petrosal Nerve (CN IX; goes to parotid gland)

Front 8

Foramen Rotundum

Back 8

V2

Front 9

Foramen Spinosum

Back 9

Middle Meningeal Artery
Recurrent branch of V3

Front 10

Greater Palatine Foramen

Back 10

Anterior and posterior (greater and lesser) palatine nerves/vessels (branch of V2)
NOTE: These are branches of pterygopalatine nerves/vessels

Front 11

Hiatus of Facial canal (IE: greater superficial petrosal)

Back 11

Greater superficial petrosal nerve (CN VII)
Petrosal branches of middle meningeal artery

Front 12

Hypoglossal Canal

Back 12

Hypoglossal Nerve (CN XII)
Meningeal branch of ascending pharyngeal artery (branch of external carotid)

Front 13

Incisive (Nasopalatine) Canal

Back 13

nasopalatine branches of descending palatine nerves/vessels (CN V2)

Front 14

Inferior Orbital Fissure (Sphenomaxillary fissure)

Back 14

CN V2 nerve branches (Zygomatic, infraorbital),
- Lacrimal branch of greater petrosal nerve (CN VII)
- Infraorbital vessels

Front 15

Tympanic Canaliculus

Back 15

Tympanic branch of CN IX (becomes lesser petrosal)
Typanic branch of ascending pharyngeal artery

Front 16

Infraorbital foramen

Back 16

Infraorbital branch of CN V2
Infraorbital vessels

Front 17

Internal Acoustic Meatus

Back 17

CN VIII
CN VII
internal auditory branch of basilar artery

Front 18

Jugular Foramen

Back 18

Internal Jugular Vein,
CN IX
CN X
CN XI

Front 19

Lesser Palatine Foramen

Back 19

Posterior (lesser) palatine nerves/vessels (CN V2)
NOTE: These are branches of peterygopalatine or descending palatine nerves and vessels

Front 20

Mandibular (inferior alveolar) Foramen

Back 20

Inferior alveolar nerve and vessels (CN V3)

Front 21

Mastoid Canaliculus (Tympanomastoid Fissure)

Back 21

auricular branch of CN X

Front 22

Mastoid Foramen

Back 22

mastoid branch of occipital artery, emissary vein

Front 23

Mental Foramen

Back 23

mental nerve/vessels (CN V3)

Front 24

Nasolacrimal Canal

Back 24

Tear Duct

Front 25

Optic Foramen

Back 25

Optic nerve (CN II),
Ophthalmic artery
Central retinal artery

Front 26

Parietal Foramen

Back 26

Emissary vein

Front 27

Petrotympanic Fissure (AKA: squamotympanic fissure)

Back 27

Chorda tympanic branch of CN VII

Front 28

Pharyngeal Canals

Back 28

Pharyngeal branch of maxillary artery
Pharyngeal branches greater petrosal nerve (CN VII)

Front 29

Posterior Condylar Canal

Back 29

Emissary vein
Meningeal branch of occipital artery

Front 30

Posterior Ethmoidal Foramen

Back 30

posterior ethmoidal nerve and vessels (branch of CN V1)

Front 31

Posterior Superior Alveolar Foramen (Maxillary Foramen)

Back 31

posterior superior alveolar nerve and vessels (CN V2)

Front 32

Pterygoid (VIDIAN) Canal

Back 32

Nerve of pterygoid canal (combined sympathetic postganglionics of deep petrosal nerve and parasympathetic preganglionics from greater petrosal nerve)

Front 33

Pterygomaxillary Fissure

Back 33

Maxillary artery
Posterior superior alveolar nerve (CN V2)

Front 34

Pterygopalatine (Descending Palatine) Canal

Back 34

descending palatine nerves and vessels

Front 35

Pterygopalatine (Sphenopalatine) Foramen

Back 35

Pterygopalatine vessels
Nasopalatine nerve
Posterior Nasal nerves (CN V2)
Pharyngeal nerves/vessels (CN V2)

Front 36

Stylomastoid Foramen

Back 36

Facial nerve proper (SVE and GSA only)

Front 37

Superior Orbital Fissure

Back 37

Occulomotor (CN III)
CN V1
CN IV
CN VI
Ophthalamic vein

Front 38

Supraorbital Fissure

Back 38

Supraorbital nerve (CN V1 aka frontal nerve to upper eyelid)

Front 39

Zygomaticofacial Foramen

Back 39

zygomaticofacial branch of zygomatic nerve of zygomatic branch of CN V2

Front 40

Zygomatico-orbital Foramen

Back 40

zygomatic nerve of CN V2

Front 41

Zygomaticotemporal Foramen

Back 41

zygomaticotemporal branch of zygomatic branch of CN V2

Front 42

What muscles, vessels, and nerves pass through the infratemporal fossa?

Back 42

Muscles: Temporalis, lateral pterygoid, medial pterygoid
Vessels: Maxillary Artery (middle meningeal, inferior alveolar, deep temporal, buccal)
Nerves: Mandibular nerve, inferior alveolar nerve, lingual nerve, buccal nerve, chorda typani nerve, otic ganglion