Anatomy Bones and Muscles · MU Pleven

197. Basis cranii – anterior, middle and posterior cerebral fossae.

Covers the internal surface of the cranial base and its three fossae: anterior, middle and posterior. It sets out the bony borders separating each fossa, then lists the openings in each fossa with the nerves, vessels and structures that pass through them, such as the optic canal, foramen ovale and foramen magnum. It closes with a short note on clinical significance, including fractures.

Inside: 1 section · 2 labelled pictures · 15 flashcards · 3 min

Topic 196 of 236 in the MU Pleven syllabus for Anatomy Bones and Muscles (Medicine, Year 2). The free AceMed note covers it in 1 section, about 398 words (3 min of reading), with 15 flashcards.

In this note

  1. BASE OF THE SKULL

BASE OF THE SKULL

Refers to the internal surface of the cranial base.

Subdivisions & Borders:

Subdivisions

  1. 1 Anterior cranial fossa (fossa cranii anterior)
  2. 2 Middle cranial fossa (fossa cranii media)
  3. 3 Posterior cranial fossa (fossa cranii posterior)

Boundaries

  1. 4 Ventral border of the anterior cranial fossa – the squamous part of the frontal bone
  2. 5 Border between the anterior and middle cranial fossa – the posterior margins of the lesser wings of the sphenoid bone, anterior clinoid processes and jugum sphenoidale
  3. 6 Border between the middle and posterior cranial fossa – the superior border of the petrous part of the temporal bone and the dorsum sellae
  4. 7 Dorsal border of the posterior cranial fossa – the squamous part of the occipital bone

Passages & Contants

  1. 1 Anterior cranial fossa – contains the frontal lobes of the telencephalon
  2. 1.1 Cribriform foramina – contain the olfactory nerves and anterior ethmoidal nerve and vessels, the anterior meningeal artery and vein
  3. 2 Middle cranial fossa – contains the temporal lobes of the telencephalon
  4. 2.1 Optic canal – contains the optic nerve with the central retinal artery and vein, ophthalmic artery and plexus
  5. 2.2 Superior orbital fissure – contains the oculomotor, trochlear, ophthalmic and abducent nerves and the superior ophthalmic vein
  6. 2.3 Foramen rotundum – contains the maxillary nerve
  7. 2.4 Foramen ovale – contains the mandibular nerve and venous plexus of foramen ovale
  8. 2.5 Internal aperture of carotid canal – contains the internal carotid artery
  9. 2.6 Foramen spinosum – contains the middle meningeal artery and vein and the meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve
  10. 2.7 Hypophysial fossa – contains the pituitary gland and its vessels
  11. 3 Posterior cranial fossa – contains the cerebellum and the brainstem
  12. 3.1 Internal acoustic opening – contains the facial nerve, vestibulocochlear nerve and the labyrinthine artery and veins
  13. 3.2 Jugular foramen – contains the glossopharyngeal, vagus and accessory nerves, the origin of the internal jugular vein (superior bulb), and the posterior meningeal artery
  14. 3.3 Hypoglossal canal – contains the hypoglossal nerve and the venous plexus of the hypoglossal canal
  15. 3.4 Foramen magnum – contains the spinal cord and its meninges, vertebral arteries, spinal roots of the accessory nerve, spinal arteries, venous interconnection, and ligaments
  16. 3.5 Dural venous sinuses – include the plexuses (inferior petrous sinus, marginal sinus, sigmoid sinus, transverse sinus, occipital sinus and confluence of sinuses

Clinical significance

  1. 1. Fractures.
  2. 2. Openings & passageways
  3. 3. Stable platform for the brain.

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