Foramina and other Apertures of Cranial Fossae and Contents

Foramen cecum

Nasal Emissary Vein

Cribriform Foramina in Cribriform plate

Olfactory nerves (axons of olfactory cells in olfactory epithelium that form olfactory nerves)

Anterior and posterior ethmoidal foramina

Vessels and nerves with same names (Anterior ethmoidal artery, vein, nerve and Posterior ethmoidal artery, vein, nerve)

Optic canals

Optic nerves (CNII) and ophthalmic arteries

Superior Orbital fissure

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

Foramen rotundum

Maxillary Nerve (CN V2)

Foramen ovale

Mandibular Nerve (CN V3) and accessory meningeal artery

Foramen spinosum

Middle meningeal artery and vein and meningeal branch of CN V3

Foramen lacerum

Deep petrosal nerve and some meningeal arterial branches and small veins

Groove/Hiatus of greater petrosal nerve

Greater petrosal nerve and petrosal branch of middle meningeal artery

Foramen magnum

CN XI (Accessory); Medulla and meninges, vertebral arteries, dural veins, anterior and posterior spinal arteries

Jugular Foramen

CN IX (Glossopharyngeal), X (Vagus), XI (Accessory); superior bulb of internal jugular vein; inferior petrosal and sigmoid sinuses; and meningeal branches of ascending pharyngeal and occipital arteries

Hypoglossal Canal

CN XII (Hypoglossal)

Condylar Canal

Emissary vein that passes from sigmoid sinus to vertebral veins in neck

Mastoid Foramen

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