Foramina of the skull
Questions asking about foramina of the skull have come up in the exam in previous years. Below is a brief summary of the major foramina, please see the Wikipedia link for a full list.
| Foramen | Bone | Vessels | Nerves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optic canal | Sphenoid | Ophthalmic artery | Optic nerve (II) |
| Superior orbital fissure | Sphenoid | Superior ophthalmic vein Inferior ophthalmic vein | Oculomotor nerve (III) Trochlear nerve (IV) lacrimal, frontal and nasociliary branches of ophthalmic nerve (V1) Abducent nerve (VI) |
| Inferior orbital fissure | Sphenoid and maxilla | Inferior ophthalmic veins Infraorbital artery Infraorbital vein | Zygomatic nerve and infraorbital nerve of maxillary nerve (V2) Orbital branches of pterygopalatine ganglion |
| Foramen rotundum | Sphenoid | - | Maxillary nerve (V2) |
| Foramen ovale | Sphenoid | Accessory meningeal artery | Mandibular nerve (V3) |
| Jugular foramen | Occipital and temporal | Posterior meningeal artery Ascending pharyngeal artery Inferior petrosal sinus Sigmoid sinus Internal jugular vein | Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) Vagus nerve (X) Accessory nerve (XI) |