External and Internal Foramina of the Skull
infra-orbital foramen
(external, anterior view) infra-orbital nerve and vessels
mental foramen
(external, anterior view) mental nerve and vessels
supra-orbital foramen
(external, anterior view) supra-orbital nerve and vessels
foramen magnum
(external, inferior view) (internal, posterior cranial fossa) continuation of brain and spinal cord; vertebral arteries and nerve plexuses; anterior spinal artery; posterior spinal arteries; roots of accessory nerve (XI); meninges
condylar canal
(external, inferior view) (internal, posterior cranial fossa) emissary veins
hypoglossal canal
(external, inferior view) (internal, posterior cranial fossa) hypoglossal nerve (XII) and vessels
jugular foramen
(external, inferior view) (internal, posterior cranial fossa) internal jugular vein; inferior petrosal sinus; glossopharyngeal nerve (IX); vagus nerve (X); accessory nerve (XI)
stylomastoid foramen
(external, inferior view) facial nerve (VII)
foramen lacerum
(external, inferior view) filled with cartilage
greater palatine foramen
(external, inferior view) greater palatine nerve and vessels
carotid canal
(external, inferior view) internal carotid artery and nerve plexus
lesser palatine foramen
(external, inferior view) lesser palatine nerve and vessels
incisive foramina
(external, inferior view) nasopalatine nerve; sphenopalatine vessels
pterygoid canal
(external, inferior view) pterygoid nerve and vessels
foramen ovale
(external, inferior view)(internal, middle cranial fossa) mandibular nerve (V3); lesser petrosal nerve
foramen spinosum
(external, inferior view)(internal, middle cranial fossa) middle meningeal artery
zygomaticofacial foramen
(external, lateral view) zygomaticofacial nerve
parietal foramen
(external, superior view) emissary veins
foramen cecum
(internal, anterior cranial fossa) emissary veins to nasal canal
olfactory foramina in cribiform plate
(internal, anterior cranial fossa) olfactory nerves (I)
optic canal
(internal, anterior cranial fossa) optic nerve (II); opthalmic artery
hiatus for the greater petrosal nerve
(internal, middle cranial fossa) greater petrosal nerve
hiatus for the lesser petrosal nerve
(internal, middle cranial fossa) lesser petrosal nerve
foramen rotundum
(internal, middle cranial fossa) maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve (V2)
superior orbital fissure
(internal, middle cranial fossa) oculomotor nerve (III); trochlear nerve (IV); ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve (V`); abducens nerve (VI); ophthalmic veins
internal acoustic meatus
(internal, posterior cranial fossa) facial nerve (VII); vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII); labyrinthine artery
