Cranial Cavity Foramen and Sinuses

Foramen spinosum

middle meningeal artery

foramen rotundum

maxillary division of trigeminal nerve (V)

Foramen ovale

mandibular division of trigeminal nerve (V)

carotid canal

internal carotid artery

Jugular foramen (3 nerves, 1 vessel)

glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)

vagus nerve (X)

accessory nerve (XI)

foramen magnum

spinal cord

vertebral arteries

roots of accessory nerve (XI)

cribiform plate

olfactory nerves (I)

optic canal (nerve and artery)

optic nerve (II)

ophthalmic artery

superior orbital fissure (4 nerves, 1 vessel)

ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve (V)

oculomotor nerve (III)

trochlear nerve (IV)

abducent nerve (VI)

superior ophthalmic vein

internal acoustic meatus

facial nerve (VII)

vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)

labrynthine artery and vein

hypoglossal canal

hypoglossal nerve (XII)

hiatus for the greater petrosal nerve

greater petrosal nerve

Maxillary sinus

on cheek bone lateral to nasal bone (2 of them)

pyramid shaped

largest paranasal sinus

Frontal sinus

cavity within the frontal bone

2 sinuses just behind eyebrows

Sphenoidal sinus

paired cavity located within the sphenoid

inferior to the sella turcica

open to the roof of the nasal cavity

Superior sagittal sinus

superior border of falx cerebri

goes along the sagittal suture (anterior to posterior, where the parietal bones meet)

inferior sagittal sinus

inferior margin of falx cerebri

goes along the sagittal suture (anterior to posterior, where the parietal bones meet)

much deeper than superior

Confluence of sinuses

space at the internal occipital protuberance

connects to superior sagittal sinus

Transverse sinus

horizontal extensions from the confluence of sinuses

posterior and lateral attachments to tentorium cerebelli

Sigmoid sinus

continuation of the transverse sinus, drains into internal jugular vein

Superior petrosal sinus

superior margin of petrous part of temporal bone

Inferior petrosal sinus

groove between petrous part of temporal bone and occipital bone, ends at internal jugular vein

straight sinus

Connects inferior sagittal sinus to confluence of sinuses