Head And Neck

Front 1

Foramen Cecum

Back 1

anterior cranial fossa

nasal emissary vein (1% pop)

Front 2

Cribriform Foramina in Cribriform Plate

Back 2

anterior cranial fossa

axons of olfactory cells in olfactory epithelium that form olfactory nerves

Front 3

Anterior and Posterior Ethmoidal Foramina

Back 3

anterior cranial fossa

vessels and nerves with same names

Front 4

Optic Canals

Back 4

middle cranial fossa

optic nerves (CN II) and ophthalmic arteries

Front 5

Superior orbital fissure

Back 5

middle cranial fossa

Ophthalmic veins' ophthalmic nerve (CN V1); CN III, IV, and VI; and sympathetic fibers

Front 6

Foramen rotundum

Back 6

middle cranial fossa

Maxillary nerve - CN V2

Front 7

Foramen Ovale

Back 7

middle cranial fossa

Mandibular nerve (CN V3) and accessory meningeal artery

Front 8

Foramen Spinosum

Back 8

middle cranial fossa

middle meningeal artery and vein and meningeal branch of CN V3

Front 9

Foramen Lacerum

Back 9

middle cranial fossa

Internal carotid artery and its accompanying sympathetic and venous plexuses

*structures pass horizontally across the area of the foramen lacerum, an artifact of dry skulls, which is closed by cartilage in life

Front 10

Groove or Hiatus of Greater Petrosal Nerve

Back 10

middle cranial fossa

greater petrosal nerve and petrosal branch of middle meningeal artery

Front 11

Foramen Magnum

Back 11

posterior cranial fossa

Medulla and meninges, bertebral arteries, CN XI, dural veins, anterior and posterior spinal arteries

Front 12

Jugular Foramen

Back 12

posterior cranial fossa

CN IX, X, and XI

superior bulb of internal jugular vein; inferior petrosal and sigmoid sinuses; meningeal branches of ascending pharyngeal and occipital arteries

Front 13

Hypoglassal Canal

Back 13

posterior cranial fossa

Hypoglassal nerve - CN XII

Front 14

Condylar Canal

Back 14

posterior cranial fossa

emissary vein -- passes from sigmoid sinus to vertebral veins in neck

Front 15

Mastoid Foramen

Back 15

posterior cranial fossa

mastoid emissary vein from sigmoid sinus and meningeal branch of occipital artery

Front 16

Internal Acoustic Meatus

Back 16

posterior cranial fossa

CN VII, CN VIII & Labyrinthine a