Skull Foramina And Contents

Front 1

Supraorbital Foramen (notch)

Back 1

supraorbital artery, vein, nerves.

Front 2

Infraorbital Foramen

Back 2

infraorbital a, v, n.

Front 3

Superior Orbital Fissure

Back 3

III,
IV,
VI
ophthalmic division of V;
sympathetics from internal carotid plexus;
superior ophthalmic vein

Front 4

Inferior Orbital Fissure

Back 4

infraorbital and zygomatic nerves from V2; infraorbital a, v; veins from orbit to pterygoid plexus

Front 5

Optic Canal

Back 5

optic nerve; ophthalmic artery; sympathetics from internal carotid plexus

Front 6

Anterior Ethmoidal Foramen

Back 6

anterior ethmoidal a, v, n.

Front 7

Posterior Ethmoidal Foramen

Back 7

posterior ethmoidal a, v, n.

Front 8

Cribriform Plate

Back 8

olfactory nerve fibers

Front 9

Foramen Cecum

Back 9

sometimes transmits an
emissary vein from nasal cavity to
superior sagittal sinus

Front 10

Pterygoid Canal

Back 10

a, v, n of pterygoid canal

Front 11

Zygomaticofacial Foramen

Back 11

zygomaticofacial nerve

Front 12

Zygomaticotemporal Foramen

Back 12

zygomaticotemporal nerve

Front 13

Internal Acoustic Meatus

Back 13

facial (C.N. VII) and
vestibulocochlear (C.N. VIII) nerves;
labyrinthine artery

Front 14

Foramen Magnum

Back 14

spinal cord and meninges;
ascending rootlets of XI;
vertebral a;
anterior spinal arteries
posterior spinal arteries

Front 15

Hypoglossal Canal

Back 15

hypoglossal nerve (XII)

Front 16

Carotid Canal

Back 16

internal carotid artery
sympathetic plexus from the internal carotid nerve;

(internal carotid nerve is the postsynaptic cranial continuation of the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion)

Front 17

Jugular Foramen

Back 17

posteriorly - jugular bulb of internal jugular vein; anteriorly - inferior petrosal sinus.
IX,
X
XI
pass between these anterior and posterior structures

Front 18

Stylomastoid Foramen

Back 18

stylomastoid artery; facial nerve (VII)

Front 19

Foramen Spinosum

Back 19

meningeal branch of mandibular nerve; middle meningeal a, v.

Front 20

Foramen Ovale

Back 20

mandibular division of V; accessory meningeal artery

Front 21

Foramen Lacerum

Back 21

largely filled by fibrocartilage;
pterygoid canal opens into its anterior and the canal’s contents are considered by some to be passing through the lacerum.
Internal carotid artery passes anteriorly across cerebral surface of cartilage towards
cavernous sinus.

Front 22

Foramen Rotundum

Back 22

maxillary division of V.

Front 23

Sphenopalatine Foramen

Back 23

opening from pterygopalatine fossa
into
nasal cavity;
sphenopalatine a, v;
posterior superior nasal nerves.

Front 24

Pterygomaxillary Fissure

Back 24

lateral approach to pterygopalatine fossa from the infratemporal fossa;
maxillary a, v;
posterior superior alveolar nerve.

Front 25

Pterygopalatine Fossa

Back 25

maxillary division of v;
pterygoplatine ganglion;
branches of maxillary a, v.

Front 26

Palatine Canal

Back 26

descending palatine a, v;
greater and lesser palatine nn.

Front 27

Incisive Foramen

Back 27

nasopalatine n;
branches of greater palatine a, v to nasal cavity.