Anatomy- Sphenoid Bone

Pterygoid canal

Passage for maxillary nerve and artery.

Pterygomaxillary fissure

Opening between pterygoid and maxilla.

Sella turcica

Depression housing the pituitary gland.

Optic canal

Transmits optic nerve and ophthalmic artery.

Foramen ovale

Passage for mandibular nerve and lesser petrosal nerve.

Dorsum sellae

Posterior part of the sella turcica.

Clivus

Slope formed by the basilar part of the occipital bone.

Foramen rotundum

Transmits maxillary nerve from the trigeminal nerve.

Pterygopalatine fossa

fossa deep to the infratemporal fossa and between the pterygoid process and maxillary tuberosity

Sphenopalatine foramen

Greater wing

bone immediately anterior to the temporal bone - appears to be 2 bones, one on each side of skull, is actually single bone extending across skull

lesser wing

projections on the superior portion of the sphenoid bone

Basion

midline point at the anterior margin of the occipital foramen

Superior orbital fissure

Inferior orbital fissure

Sphenoid spine

attachment of sphenomandibular ligament

origin of tensor veli palanti

sharp spiny protuberance at posterior, lateral corner of each greater wing of sphenoid

Tuberculum sellae

forms the anterior border of the sella turcica

Anterior clinoid process

together the clinoid processes deepend the sella turcica and serve as points of attachment for the tentorium cerebelli

Posterior clinoid process

together the clinoid processes deepend the sella turcica and serve as points of attachment for the tentorium cerebelli

Chiasmatic sulcus

optic chiasm

Sphenoid limbus

2

midline ridge of bone "connecting" the sphenoidal crest

Sphenoid air sinus