The skull base forms the floor of the cranial cavity and separates the brain from facial structures. It is a complex region made up of 5 bones - ethmoid, sphenoid, occipital, and paired temporal and frontal bones. It has three areas - anterior, middle, and posterior. The anterior area contains openings for vessels and nerves like the cribriform plate and optic canal. The middle area contains the cavernous sinus and openings like the superior orbital fissure. The posterior area borders the occipital bone and contains structures like the jugular foramen. A thorough understanding of the anatomy in this region is important for surgical planning and understanding pathologies.