This document lists and describes over 60 anatomical openings, canals, and foramina of the human skull. Key structures mentioned include: - The foramina of the cribriform plate which transmit the olfactory nerves. - The superior and inferior orbital fissures which transmit nerves and vessels to the orbit, including the oculomotor, trochlear and abducent nerves. - The foramen ovale, rotundum, and spinosum which transmit vessels and nerves like the mandibular and maxillary nerves. - The foramen magnum, jugular foramen, and hypoglossal canal which allow passage of structures like the spinal cord, cranial nerves

1. Ahmad Amro Baradee
ContentsForamina & Openings
1- Nasal emissary vein (to superior sagittal sinus)
2- Prolongation of dura mater
Foramen Cecum
Olfactory nerve bundles
Foramina Of Cribriform
Plate
On each side of crista galli formed by the cribriform plate ,
it helps to attach the olfactory lobe to the cribriform plate
Olfactory Incisure
Prolongation of dura materEthmoidal Hiatus
Anterior ethmoid nerve & arteryAnterior Ethmoid Foramen
1- Posterior ethmoid nerve & artery ( sphenoethmoidal
nerve) (Luschka nerve) innervates the ethmoidal cells and
the sphenoid sinus
2- Orbital branches of the pterygopalatine ganglion to
innervate the sphenoid sinus and the posterior ethmoidal
cells , and they innervate the periorbita and muscles of eye
by their sympathetic fibers
Posterior Ethmoid Foramen
1- Optic nerve
2- Ophthalmic artery(and the central retinal artery branch of the ophthalmic
artery)
Optic Canal
1- Lacrimal nerve
2- Frontal nerve
3- Trochlear nerve
4- Superior ophthalmic vein (to the cavernous sinus)
The Superior Narrow Lateral
Part Of The Superior Orbital
Fissure
5- Abducent nerve
6- Nasocilliary nerve
7- Oculomotor nerve
8- Sympathetic branches of the cavernous plexus to the
ciliary ganglion
The Inferior Wide Medial
Part Of The Superior Orbital
Fissure
9- Orbital branch of the middle meningeal artery
10- Recurrent meningeal branch of lacrimal artery
11- One of the two branches of inferior ophthalmic vein
(the other is the infraorbital vein) the inferior ophthalmic
vein ends in the cavernous sinus with the superior
ophthalmic vein
Superior Orbital Fissure

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Surrounds the optic canal and the inferior part of the
superior orbital fissure , formed by the tendons of the eye's
muscles , pass through it:
1- Optic nerve
2- Ophthalmic artery
3- Abducent nerve
4- Nasocilliary nerve
5- Oculomotor nerve
Zinn's Ring
(Common Tendinous Ring)
1- Infraorbital nerve
2- Zygomatic nerve
3- Orbital branches of the pterygopalatine ganglion to
innervate the sphenoid sinus and the posterior ethmoidal
cells , and they innervate the periorbita and muscles of eye
by their sympathetic fibers
4- Infraorbital artery
5- Infraorbital vein to connect with the pterygoid plexus
(infraorbital vein is a branch of inferior ophthalmic vein)
6- Terminal branches of the deep anterior temporal artery
which is branch of maxillary artery
Inferior Orbital Fissure
(Lies in the sphenoid bone , medial to the foramen ovale by
an internal aspect of the base of the skull , lateral to the
scaphoid fossa by an external aspect ( exists in 17% of the
skulls )
A small emissary vein passes through this foramen (it
connects the extracranial pterygoid plexus with the
intracranial cavernous sinus )
Foramen Vesalii (Canaliculus
Sphenoidalis)
Maxillary nerveForamen Rotundom
1- Mandibular nerve
2- Accessory meningeal artery (branch of maxillary to
nourish gasser's ganglion)
3- Lesser petrosal nerve (occasionally)
4- An emissary vein connects the extracranial pterygoid
plexus with the intracranial cavernous sinus
Foramen Ovale
1- Middle meningeal artery & vein
2- Meningeal branch of mandibular nerve
Foramen Spinosum
Lesser petrosal nerve (occasionally)Sphenotemporal Fissure

3. Ahmad Amro Baradee
The foramen is occluded by cartilage , the internal carotid
artery travels superiorly to the cartilage. However , some
nerves,arteries and veins do pass through the cartilage:
1- Greater petrosal nerve (the deep & superficial then they combine in
the entrance of the pterygoid canal forming the nerve of pteryoid canal)
2- The artery of pterygoid canal
3- Meningeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery
4- Emissary veins connect the extracranial pterygoid plexus
with the intracranial cavernous sinus
Foramen Lacerum
Nerve and blood vessels of pterygoid canal (Vidian nerve)
Pterygoid Canal(Vidian
Canal)
1- Internal carotid artery
2- Carotid sympathetic plexus
3- Venous plexus
Carotid Canal
1- Greater petrosal nerve
2- Petrosal branch of middle meningeal artery
Greater Petrosal Groove
Lesser petrosal nerveLesser Petrosal Groove
1- Medulla oblongata surrounded by meninges
2- Two vertebral arteries
3- Meningeal branches of vertebral arteries
4- Anterior spinal artery
5- Two posterior spinal arteries
6- Spinal root of accessory nerve
7- Ascending sympathetic branches
8- Emissary veins of basilar plexus
9- Apical ligament and tectorial membrane
Foramen Magnum
1- Anterior part: Glossopharyngeal nerve + inferior petrosal
sinus
2- Middle part: Vagus and accessory nerve + branch of posterior
meningeal artery (which is branch of ascending pharyngeal
artery ) + meningeal branch of occipital artery
3- Posterior part: Sigmoid sinus + superior bulb of jugular vein
Jugular Foramen
Located on the lateral wall of jugular foramen (on the
tympanomastoid fissure ) passes through it: The auricular branch of
vagus nerve
Mastoid Canaliculus
1- In the superior part: Facial nerve and it's branch , the
intermediate nerve >> pass together through the facial
canal (Fallopii canal)
2- In the inferior part: Vestibulocochlear nerve ( the
cochlear nerve runs antero-inferiorly & the vestibular nerve
runs postero-inferiorly )
Internal Auditory Meatus

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3- Labyrinthine artery
1- Endolymphatic duct
2- Vestibular vessels
3- Prolongation of dura mater
External Aperture Of The
Vestibular Aqueduct
Prolongation of dura mater with a small veinSubarcuate Fossa
Divided by an osteoid septum into two canals:
1- The superior canal: For the tensor muscle of the
tympanic membrane
2- The inferior canal: Is the auditory tube (Eustachian tube)
(which presents the osteoid part of auditory tube , the other
is chondroitic )
Musculotubal Canal
1- Exit: Chorda tympani nerve
2- Enter: Anterior tympanic artery (branch of maxillary) +
posterior tympanic artery (branch of stylomastoid)
Glasser Fissure
(Petrotympanic Fissure)
1- Posterior meningeal artery
2- Occipital emissary vein
Condylar Canal
1- Hypoglossal nerve
2- Meningeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery
3- Emissary vein of basilar plexus
Hypoglossal Canal (Anterior
Condyloid Canal )
Gives origion to the posterior belly of the digastric muscleMastoid Notch
For the occipital artery
Notch Medial To Mastoid
Notch
Gives origin to the tensor veli palatini muscleScaphoid Fossa
1- Parietal emissary vein
2- Branch of occipital artery
Parietal Foramen
1- Mastoid emissary vein (to sigmoid sinus)
2- Mastoidal branch of occipital artery
Mastoid Foramen
1- Exit: Facial nerve
2- Enter: Stylomastid artery (branch of either occipital
artery 66% or posterior auricular artery 33%)
Stylomastoid Foramen
The inferior ganglion of glossopharyngeal nerve (Andersch
ganglion) is situated in this fossula
Petrosal Fossula
Opens in the bottom of tympanic fossula , through it enters
the tympanic nerve (Jacobson's nerve) branch of
glossopharyngeal nerve
Tympanic Canaliculus
(Jacobson Canaliculus)
1- Nasopalatine nerve
2- Nasal nervous branches of pterygopalatine ganglion
3- Sphenopalatine artery
Sphenopalatine Foramen

5. Ahmad Amro Baradee
"Connects the nasal cavity with the pterygopalatine fossa"
1- Pharyngeal artery branch of maxillary artery
2- Pharyngeal nerve (bock's nerve) branch of
pterygopalatine ganglion and it carries postsynapatic
parasympathetic fibres to mucus glands of nasopharynx
Palatovaginal Canal
(Pterygopalatine Canal)
(Pharyngeal Canal)
Pharyngeal branch of sphenopalatine arteryVomerovaginal Canal
Greater and lesser palatine nerves and blood vessels
Greater Palatine Canal
(Pterygopalatine Canal)
1- Greater palatine nerve
2- Greater (descending) palatine artery (branch of
maxillary)
Greater Palatine Foramen
1- Lesser palatine nerve
2- Lesser palatine artery (branch of greater palatine artery)
Lesser Palatine Foramen
Greater palatine artery – greater palatine nerve –and
palatine veins .. In this exact order
Two Or Three Grooves In
The Posterior Part Of Hard
Palate
1- Nasopalatine nerve
2- Terminal branch of greater palatine artery
Incisive Foramen
Posterior superior alveolar nerves and arteries
Alveolar Foramina Of
Maxilla
Supraorbital nerve and blood vessels
Supraorbital Foramen
(Notch)
Supratrochlear nerve and blood vessels
Frontal Notch
(Supratrochlear Notch)
Infratrochlear nerve passes by itTrochlear Fossula
Located within the supero-lateral wall of the orbit (of the
frontal bone)
Lacrimal Gland's Fossa
Located within the infero-medial wall of the orbit (of the
lacrimal and maxillary bones)
Lacrimal Sac's Fossa
Carries tears from the lacrimal sac into the inferior meatus
of the nasal cavity
Nasolacrimal Duct (Tear
Duct)
Infraorbital nerve and blood vesselsInfraorbital Foramen
Zygomaticofacial nerveZygomaticofacial Foramen
Zygomaticotemporal nerve
Zygomaticotemporal
Foramen
Located infero-medial the inferior border of the orbit ,
through it passes a small artery branch of angular artery to
nourish the canine (exists in 1% of the skulls)
Parinaud Canal

6. Ahmad Amro Baradee
I hope this was helpful 
By: Ahmad Amro Baradee
Mental nerve and blood vesselsMental Foramen
Nervous branches of the cervical plexus C1-C4 , innervate
the medial root of the first inferior molar
Foramina Opposite The
Mental Foramen (On The
Lingual Side )
Inferior alveolar nerve and blood vesselsMandibular Canal (Foramen)
Mylohyoid nerve and blood vesselsMylohyoid Groove
This foramen is formed by the free space between the
sphenomandibular ligament and the tympanomandibular
ligament* , through it passes the mylohyoid neurovascular
bundle (*the tympanomandibular ligament: Is a fibrous ligament
strengthens the posterior part of the sphenomandibular ligament)
Mylohyoid Foramen
Located in the intermediate line of the lingual surface of the
mandible , near the mental spines . Small blood vessels exit
through it
Lingual Foramen
Attachment for lateral pterygoid musclePterygoid Fovea
The maxillary artery passes through it to reach the
pterygomaxillary region
Juvara Groove (
Retrocondylar Groove )