Foramina of the Skull & Major Structures Associated

optic canal

optic nerve (CN II)

rostral alar foramen

maxillary a. & n.

→branch of CN V

caudal alar foramen

maxillary a.

round foramen

maxillary n.

→branch of CN V

foramen orbitorotundum (ruminant)

oculomotor (CN III), trochlear (CN IV), ophthalmic and maxillary nn. → branches from CN V, and abducent (CN VI)

sphenopalatine foramen

sphenopalatine a. & v., caudal nasal n.

caudal palatine foramen

major palatine a., v., & n.

maxillary foramen

infraorbital a., v., & n.

infraorbital foramen

infraorbital a., v., & n.

alveolar canals

molar teeth, nerve roots, & vessels

external acoustic meatus

covered by annular cartilage and tympanic membrane

oval foramen (carnivore & ruminant)

mandibular n. → branch of CN V and middle meningeal a.

foramen lacerum (carnivore & ruminant)

internal carotid a.

oval notch

mandibular n. → branch of CN V & middle meningeal a.

carotid notch

internal carotid a.

jugular notch

glossopharyngeal (CN IX), vagus (CN X), accessory (CN XI), & sympathetic trunk

musculotubal canal

auditory tube

tympano-occipital fissure (carnivore & ruminant)

internal jugular v., sympathetic and parasympathetic postganglionic axons from the cranial cervical ganglion

exit for the petro-occipital canal and the carotid canal and jugular foramen

mandibular foss

contains the retroarticular foramen

retroarticular foramen

emissary v. from the temporal sinus

stylomastoid foramen

conducts the facial nerve (CN VII)

major & minor palatine foramina

major palatine a., v., & n.

foramen magnum

medulla of the brainstem

mastoid foramen

caudal meningeal a. & v.

mandibular foramen

inferior alveolar a., v., n.

jugular foramen

glossopharyngeal (CN IX), vagus (CN X), & accessory (CN XI)

condyloid canal

venous sinus

mental foramina

mental nn.

canal for the trigeminal nerve

trigeminal ganglion

internal acoustic meatus

facial (CN VII), & vestibulocochlear (CN VIII)