Skull Base Anatomy

Front 1

Infratemporal fossa contents

Back 1

Lower part of temporalis
Lateral and medial pterygoids
Maxillary artery
CN V2
Pterygoid venous plexus

Front 2

Foramen ovale: contents and bone(s)

Back 2

Sphenoid (greater wing)
V3, accessory meningeal artery, lesser petrosal nerve (occasionally)

Front 3

Carotid canal: contents and bone(s)

Back 3

Internal carotid
Sympathetic carotid plexus
Temporal bone

Front 4

Internal acoustic meatus: contents and bone(s)

Back 4

CN 7, 8 and labyrinthine artery
Temporal (petrous)

Front 5

Pterygomaxillary fissure: contents

Back 5

Maxillary artery and nerve

Front 6

Pterygopalatine fossa: contents

Back 6

Maxillary artery and nerve
Pterygopalatine ganglion
Pterygoid VAN
Nasopalatine VAN
Greater and lesser palatine arteries and nerves
ASA/MSA/PSA

Front 7

Foramen lacerum: contents and bone(s)

Back 7

Internal carotid, a. of the pterygoid canal, n. of the pterygoid canal (Vidian n.)
Greater wing, petrous temporal, basilar occipital

Front 8

Jugular foramen: contents and bone(s)

Back 8

inferior petrosal sinus, sigmoid sinus
glossopharyngeal (IX), vagus (X), accessory (XI)
Temporal bone

Front 9

Foramen spinosum: contents and bone(s)

Back 9

middle meningeal artery
meningeal branch of V3

Front 10

Optic canal: contents and bone(s)

Back 10

ophthalmic artery
Optic nerve (II)
Sphenoid

Front 11

Superior orbital fissure: contents and bone(s)

Back 11

CN 3, 4, 5, 6
(lacrimal, frontal and nasociliary branches of ophthalmic nerve V1)
Superior ophthalmic vein
Sympathetic fibers
Greater and lesser wings

Front 12

Foramen rotundum: contents and bone(s)

Back 12

Maxillary nerve (V2)
Sphenoid

Front 13

Foramen cecum: contents and bone(s)

Back 13

Emissary veins to superior sagittal sinus
Frontal

Front 14

Inferior orbital fissure: contents and bone(s)

Back 14

inferior ophthalmic v.
infraorbital a. and v.
infraorbital v.
zygomatic infraorbital n. (V2)
orbital branches of pterygopalatine ganglion
Maxilla & Sphenoid