1. Table 1 Foramina of the Skull and Their Contents
By
Dr. Noura Osman
29-11-2009

2. Location on Location on
Foramen Bone(s) Contents
Skull Bone
Anterior ethmoidal Medial wall of Ethmoidal Fronto-ethmoidal Anterior ethmoidal nerve
orbit and frontal suture and vessels
Carotid canal Middle cranial Temporal Petrous portion of Internal carotid artery
fossa temporal and associated
sympathetic plexus
Cecum Anterior cranial Frontal and Between the base Emissary veins
fossa ethmoidal of the frontal
crest and crista
galli
Condyloid Posterior cranial Occipital In condylar fossa Emissary veins
fossa just behind the
condyle
Greater palatine Anterior base of Palatine Between the Greater palatine vessels
the skull and palatomaxillary and nerve
maxilla suture, lingual to
the third molar
Hiatus of the facial Middle cranial Temporal Petrous portion of Greater petrosal nerve
canal fossa temporal, lateral
to trigeminal
impression
Hypoglossal canal Posterior cranial Occipital Directly above Cranial nerve XII,
fossa the anteror aspect meningeal branch of the
of the occipital ascending pharyngeal
condyle artery
Incisive Palatal midline Maxillae Opens into the Nasopalatine nerves and
incisive fossa just descending septal
behind the branches of the
interdental sphenopalatine artery
septum between
the two central
incisors
Inferior orbital Orbit Sphenoid, Between lateral Maxillary division of
fissure maxilla, wall and floor of cranial nerve V,
palatine, orbit zygomatic nerve,
and infraorbital vessels and
zygoma veins to the pterygoid
plexus, ophthalmic vein
Infraorbital Inferior to rim of Maxilla Inferior to rim of Infraorbital vessels and
orbit orbit, lateral to nerve
nasal aperture,
above canine
fossa
Internal auditory Posterior cranial Temporal Posterior aspect Cranial nerves VII and
meatus fossa of the petrous VIII, nervus intermedius
portion of and internal auditory
temporal vessels
Jugular Posterior cranial Occipital Lateral to the Cranial nerves IX, X, and
fossa and foramen XI; inferior petrosal and
temporal magnum, medial sigmoid sinuses;
to the styloid meningeal arteries;
process jugular bulb of internal
jugular vein
Lacerum Middle cranial Temporal, Medial to the Covered by cartilaginous
fossa occipital, apex of the plate, which is pierced by
and petrous part of the meningeal arteries and
sphenoid temporal; lateral emissary veins
to basilar part of
occipital
Lesser palatine Palate (posterior Pyramidal Lesser palatine vessels
palatine part) process of and nerves
palatine
Magnum Posterior cranial Occipital Posterior to the Medulla oblongata and
fossa clivus associated meninges,
spinal roots of cranial
nerve XI, vertebral
arteries, anterior and
posterior spinal arteries,
postganglionic
sympathetic fibers
Mandibular Medial surface of Mandible Medial surface of Inferior alveolar vessels
the mandible ramus, inferior to and nerve
lingula
Mastoid Posterior external Temporal Above and Emissary veins, mastoid
surface behind the branch of the occipital
mastoid process artery
near temporo-
occipital suture
Mental Anterior surface Mandible Inferior to Mental nerve and vessels
of mandible interproximal
region between
first and second
premolar
Nasolacrimal canal Anteromedial Maxilla Region of Nasolacrimal duct
aspect of orbit and articulation
lacrimal between the
frontal process of
the maxilla and
the lacrimal bone
Olfactory Anterior cranial Ethmoid Cribriform plate Olfactory nerves
fossa of ethmoid
surrounding the
crista galli
Optic Middle cranial Sphenoid Apex of the orbit, Optic nerve, ophthalmic
fossa between the two artery and associated post
roots of the lesser ganglionic sympathetic
wing of the fibers, central artery of
sphenoid retina
Ovale Middle cranial Sphenoid Greater wing of Mandibular division of
fossa sphenoid, cranial nerve V,
anteromedial to accessory meningeal
the foramen artery, sometimes the
spinosum lesser petrosal nerve
Parietal Anterior to Parietal On superior Emissary vein to superior
lambda on either aspect near the sagittal sinus, sometimes
side of sagittal sagittal suture a branch of the occipital