This document discusses the anatomy of the skull base. It begins by explaining that the skull base develops primarily from cartilage precursors and forms the floor of the cranial cavity. It then describes the development of the various cartilage components that fuse together to form bones of the skull base, including the parachordal, sclerotomal, hypophyseal, presphenoid, orbitosphenoid, and alisphenoid cartilages. The document further details the boundaries and structures of the anterior, middle, and posterior skull base, emphasizing the role of the sphenoid bone in forming the central skull base. Key anatomical landmarks and contents of the cavernous sinus, optic canal, and superior orbital fiss

1. Dr. SarbeshTiwari

2.  The skull base represents a central and complex bone structure of the
skull that forms the floor of the cranial cavity on which the brain lies.
 It separates brain from facial structures and suprahyoid neck.
 Anatomical knowledge of this particular region is important for
under-standing several pathologic conditions as well as for planning
surgical procedures.
2Anatomy skull base

3. The human skull consists of three components:
(1) the membranous neurocranium, which constitutes the flat bones of
the skull,
(2) the cartilaginous neurocranium or chondrocranium which forms the
majority of the skull base, and
(3) the viscerocranium or facial skeleton.
3Anatomy skull base

4.  The basicranium develops primarily from cartilage precursors, with a
small component from membranous bone.
 The development of the cartilaginous skull base begins around the
40th day of gestation, with the conversion of mesenchyme into
cartilage.
 Occipital sclerotomal mesenchyme concentrates around the
notochord and extends cephalically forming the floor of brain.
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5.  The parachordal cartilage – Around the notochord.
 Sclerotomal cartilage – Occipital bone.
 2 hypophyseal cartilage – Fuse to form basisphenoid cartilage.
 2 presphenoid cartilage – body of sphenoid. ‘
 Orbitosphenoid and Alisphenoid – wings of sphenoid.
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6. 6Anatomy skull base

7.  The chondrocranium begins to form when the collections of
mesenchyme accumulating around and in front of the notochord
condense into cartilage.
 These chondrification centers, termed the parachordal cartilages,
form early in the seventh week adjacent to the rostral end of the
notochord and contribute to the creation of the basal plate.
 The parachordal cartilage fuse with the sclerotomes arising from the
occipital somites surrounding the neural tube.
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8.  Mesenchymal condensations migrating to the rostral end of
notochord at the region of rathke’s pouch form the polar or
hypophyseal cartilages.
 Rostral extensions of these cartilages surround the craniopharyngeal
canal and join to create the presphenoid.
 Together with the trabecular cartilages, the hypophyseal
chondrification centers fuse to form the precursors of the central
skull base.
 Laterally, the cartilages of the orbitosphenoid (lesser wing) and
alisphenoid (greater wing) combine with the centrally positioned
basisphenoid and presphenoid cartilages later to form the sphenoid
bone.
8Anatomy skull base

9.  The capsular tissue surrounding the nasal placodes chondrifies along
with the trabeculi cranii, ossifies into the ethmoid and inferior nasal
concha bones.
 The midline segments of these bones create the nasal septum, which
remains cartilaginous postpartum and acts as functional matrix for
later midface growth.
9Anatomy skull base

10.  Tissue surrounding the otic placodes also chondrifies then fuses with
the parachordal cartilages to eventually create the petrous and
mastoid segments of the temporal bone.
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11. 11Anatomy skull base

12. Dorsal view of the chondrocranium, or
base of the skull, in the adult showing
bones formed by endochondral
ossification.
Bones that form rostral to the rostral
half of the sella turcica arise from
neural crest and constitute the
prechordal (in front of the notochord)
chondrocranium (blue).
Those forming posterior to this
landmark arise from paraxial
mesoderm (chordal chondrocranium)
(red).
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13. 13Anatomy skull base

14. The skull base is composed of
five bones:
(1) ethmoid,
(2) sphenoid,
(3) occipital ,
(4) paired temporal , and
(5) paired frontal bones.
Fossa :-
1. Anterior cranial fossa
2. Middle cranial fossa.
3. Posterior cranial fossa.
14Anatomy skull base

15.  It forms the bottom of the anterior skull , separating the anterior cranial
fossa from the paranasal sinuses and the orbits.
 The boundaries :-
1. Anterior border :- posterior wall of the frontal sinus.
2. Posterior border :- lesser wing of the sphenoid bone and anterior clinoid
processes.
3. Floor :- roof of the nasal cavity and ethmoid sinuses medially.
4. Lateral wall :- thick and strong orbital plates of the frontal bone.
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16. 16Anatomy skull base

17.  Frontal crest :- It’s a midline bony ridge that projects upwards and provide
attachment to the falx cerebri.
 Crista galli :- (latin for cock’s comb) Provides the site for anterior most
attachment of the falx cerebri.
 Cribriform plate :- It is a sheet of bone which contains numerous small
foramina – these transmit olfactory nerve fibres (CN I) into the nasal cavity.
 Anterior ethmoidal foramen transmits the anterior ethmoidal artery, nerve and vein.
 Posterior ethmoidal foramen transmits the posterior ethmoidal artery, nerve and vein.
17Anatomy skull base

18.  The CSB makes up the floor of the
middle cranial fossa.
 The sphenoid bone contributes to the
most of the CSB.
 Anterior border :-
- tuberculum sellae, anterior clinoid
process, posterior margin of lesser
wing of sphenoid & anterior superior
rim of greater wing of sphenoid.
 Posterior border :-
- superior border of petrous part of
temporal bone and the dorsum sellae
of sphenoid.
18Anatomy skull base

19.  For diagnostic imaging purposes, it
is useful to subdivide the CSB
further into
 midline sagittal,
 off-midline parasagittal, and
 lateral compartments
 by drawing vertical lines passing
medially to the petroclival fissure
and just lateral to the foramen
ovale, respectively
19Anatomy skull base

20.  Includes the body of the
sphenoid and the portion of the
clivus anterior to the spheno-
occipital synchondrosis
(basisphenoid),
 contains the sphenoid sinus,
and
 bordered superiorly by the sella
turcica and inferiorly by the
roof and posterior wall of the
nasopharynx
20Anatomy skull base

21.  It includes the petroclival synchondrosis, foramen lacerum, and
medial aspect of the greater sphenoid wing.
 It is bordered superiorly and medially by the parasellar region
containing the cavernous sinus, superiorly and laterally by the basal
temporal lobes, and inferiorly by the parapharyngeal and masticator
spaces of the suprahyoid neck.
 Many crucial neurovascular structures lay in this compartment ,
including cavernous sinus, superior orbital fissure, foramen
rotundum, vidian canal , and foramen lacerum.
21Anatomy skull base

22.  formed by sphenoid triangle, squamous part of temporal bone, and
temporomandibular joint.
22Anatomy skull base

23.  Anterior margin :- The posterior
surface of the clivus.
 Laterally – superiorly the
posterior surface of the petrous
part of temporal bone and
inferiorly the condylar part of the
occipital bone.
 Posteriorly , the mastoid part of
temporal bone and the squamous
part of occipital bone.
 Foramen magnum
23Anatomy skull base

24.  The sphenoid bone is the foundation of the central skull base.
 The shape of the sphenoid bone resembles that of a bird with wings
outstretched.
 It consist of
 a central body;
 two sets of wings– the greater and lesser, which course laterally ;and
 two pterygoid processes, which are directed inferiorly.
24Anatomy skull base

25. The superior surface articulates anteriorly with
the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone and
contains a smooth central surface, the planum
sphenoidal.
Posteriorly, the chiasmatic sulcus forms a slight
depression and leads laterally to the optic canals.
The tuberculum sellae, a bony elvation, is found
just posterior to this sulcus.
Followed, posteriorly by sella turcica & dorsum
sellae.
The dorsum sellae terminates laterally into
the posterior clinoid processes.
25Anatomy skull base

26.  The anterior surface of the body of sphenoid
forms the roof & posterior wall of
nasopharynx.
 „The body houses the sphenoid sinus .
 „Lesser wings- forms medial portion of
orbital apex
 „Greater wings – course upward and
laterally from both sides of the sphenoid
body- forms floor of middle cranial fossa,
posterolateral orbit & lateral calvaria.
26Anatomy skull base

27.  The pterygoid processes descend inferiorly from the sphenoid body.
 The lateral pterygoid plate forms a portion of the medial wall of
the infratemporal fossa and provides attachment for the lateral
pterygoid muscle.
 The medial pterygoid plate terminates inferiorly as a hook-like
process, the pterygoid hammlus around which the tendon of the
tensor veli palatini is slung.
 Attachment to medial pterygoid muscles and pharyngobasilar
fascia.
27Anatomy skull base

28.  The clivus is that part of the skull base situated between the
foramen magnum and the dorsum sellae.
 Formed from sphenoid and occipital bones.
 The petroccipital fissure forms the anterior lateral margin of the
clivus, while the synchondrosis between the basioccipital and
exoccipital bones forms the posterior lateral margins.
 Normal fat signals in adult (late teens) in MRI.
28Anatomy skull base

29. 29Anatomy skull base

30.  The cavernous sinuses are situated on each side of the body of the
sphenoid bone and extend from the superior orbital fissure anteriorly to
the petrous apex posteriorly.
 Receives :-
 Superior ophthalmic vein
 Inferior ophthalmic vein
 Sphenoparietal sinus.
-Drains into
 Petrosal sinus.
 Pterygoid plexus.
 Basilar plexus. Contents
1. III, IV, V1, V2 & VI
2. ICA. 30Anatomy skull base

31.  Dural invagination at posterior aspect of
cavernous sinus
 „Contains gasserian ganglion (trigeminal).
 Dural layers demonstrate thin peripheral
enhancement.
 In high resolution MR, 3 sensory divisions
of trigeminal nerve can be visualized
leaving the gasserian ganglion.
31Anatomy skull base

32. The optic canal is formed by the lesser
wing of sphenoid.
The contents are :-
Optic nerve .
Ophthalmic Artery.
Sympathetic fibers from carotid plexus.
32Anatomy skull base

33.  The triangular superior orbital fissure is
bounded medially by the body of the sphenoid,
above by the lesser wing, and below by the
greater wing and is completed laterally by the
frontal bone as the greater and lesser wings
converge.
 Optic strut separates the optic canal from the
superior orbital fissure.
 The optic canal and the superior orbital
fissure together form the orbital apex.
33Anatomy skull base

34. Content –
•Nerves 3,4,1st division of 5 , 6.
•„Orbital branch of middle meningeal art; sympathetic
nerve; recurrent meningeal art, sup. ophthalmic vein.
34Anatomy skull base

35.  Extends from PPF along orbital floor.
 „Separates greater wings of the sphenoid
from the maxilla.
Content –
 Maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve.
 Infraorbital vessels.
 Emissary veins connecting inferior
ophthalmic vein to pterygoid venous
plexus.
 Zygomatic nerve.
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36. Is actually a canal in the base of the greater sphenoid
wing, is situated just inferior and lateral to the
superior orbital fissure.
The canal extends obliquely forward and slightly
inferiorly, connecting the middle cranial fossa to the
pterygopalatine fossa.
The canal transmits the maxillary nerve ( V2) the
artery of the foramen Rotundum and emissary veins.
This foramen is best visualized by means of coronal
CT
36Anatomy skull base

37. • Endocranially, the foramen ovale is situated
posterolateral to foramen rotundum;
exocranially, it is found at the base of the
lateral pterygoid plate.
Contents :-
1. Mandibular Nerve (CN V3)
2. Accessory meningeal nerve
3. Lesser petrosal nerve
4. Emissary vein (Cavernous sinus to
pterygoid plexus)
5. Occasionally anterior trunk of middle
meningeal artery
37Anatomy skull base

38. It is an aperture in the greater wing of the
sphenoid posterolateral to foramen ovale.
Contents :-
1. Middle meningeal artery & vein.
2. Emissary vein.
3. Nervous spinosus (Meningeal branch
of mandibular nerve)
38Anatomy skull base

39. The vidian canal (pterygoid canal) is located in
the floor of the sphenoid sinus at the junction
of the pterygoid process and the sphenoid body
connecting the pterygopalatine fossa anteriorly
and the foramen lacerum posteriorly.
Contents :-
- Vidian Artery ( Br. Of Maxillary
Artery).
- Vidian Nerve (greater superficial
petrosal nerve and deep petrosal nerve )
39Anatomy skull base

40. It is located at the base of medial pterygoid
plate, anterior to the petrous apex.
The contents are :-
Structures passing whole length:
1. Meningeal branch of Ascending pharyngeal
artery
2. Emissary vein
Other structures partially traversing:
3. Internal carotid artery
4. Greater petrosal nerve.
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41. The carotid canal is a passage within the petrous
temporal bone and transmits the internal carotid
artery and sympathetic plexus.
The carotid canal is initially directed superiorly,
then turns anteromedially to reach up to
the petrous apex.
It approximately runs 2cm and opens to foramen
lacerum.
41Anatomy skull base

42. A bony conduit that transmits VII & VIII
cranial nerves from pontomedullary
junction to inner ear.
Divided by a bony lamina (falciform crest)
into :-
A. Smaller superior part
• Superior vestibular N.
• Facial Nerve
B. Larger Inferior part
• Inferior vestibular N.
• Cochlear nerve. 42Anatomy skull base

43. The jugular foramen is divided by a fibrous
or bony septum, the jugular spine, into:
A. the pars nervosa: smaller and
anteromedial-
i. Inferior petrosal sinus.
ii. Glossopharyngeal nerve with its
tymapnic branch (Jacobson’s Nerve).
B. the pars vascularis: larger and
posterolateral-
i. Jugular bulb.
ii. Vagus Nerve with its auricular
branch (Arnold’s nerve).
iii. Spinal accessory nerve 43Anatomy skull base

44.  The appearance of the jugular foramen is anatomically variable, and
sometimes both cranial nerves IX and X traverse through the pars
nervosa.
 The right jugular foramen is larger than the left in 75% of the
population.
 When the roof of the jugular bulb is seen above the level of floor of
internal auditory canal , it is called a highriding jugular bulb, which is
more common on the right side.
 This is a dangerous variant and compromises the exposure during
translabyrinthine surgery.
44Anatomy skull base

45.  Located within occipital bone.
 The hypoglossal (or anterior condyloid)
canal is a paired bone passage that runs
lateral to and slightly forward from the
posterior cranial fossa to the
nasopharyngeal carotid space.
 It transmits the hypoglossal nerve.
 Intracanalicular enhancement is always
present (emissary veins), with linear
filling defects ( nerve rootlets).
45Anatomy skull base

46.  The foramen magnum is entirely formed
within the occipital bone.
 Contents :-
1. Medulla oblongata.
2. Vertebral arteries and veins.
3. Anterior and posterior spinal arteries.
4. spinal component of spinal accessory
nerve.
5. Tectorial membrane and alar ligament.
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47. 47Anatomy skull base

48. 48

49.  Parapharyngeal , masticator, carotid, and retropharyngeal spaces are
seen in close contact with the skull base along their cephalad aspect .
 Parapharyngeal space extends caudally to the submandibular space
and cranially abuts the base skull. It contains fat within, which acts as
a medium for infection.
49Anatomy skull base

50.  Masticator space connects the mandible to the skull base. Odontogenic
infections and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma can tract along
masticator space to the base skull.
Intracranial extension of the tumor can occur
via third division of trigeminal nerve, mandibular nerve (perineural
spread) through the foramen ovale.
 Vascular lesions such as jugular vein thrombosis and neural tumors such
as Schwannoma, Neurofibromas, and Paraganglioma are seen in the
carotid space.
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51. 51Anatomy skull base

52.  A fat filled space between the pterygoid
plates and the posterior wall of maxillary
sinus.
 Shaped like an inverted pyramid.
Borders :-
The walls of the PPF are as follows:
Medial - perpendicular plate palatine bone.
Lateral - narrowing to pterygomaxillary fissure
Anterior - posterior wall of maxillary sinus
posterior - Medial and lateral pterygoid plates;
inferior aspect of lesser wing of sphenoid bone
52Anatomy skull base

53.  The PPF is an important pathway for the spread of neoplastic and infectious
processes:
Medially - communicates with the nasal cavity via the sphenopalatine foramen.
Laterally - communicates with the masticator space (or infratemporal fossa) via
the pterygomaxillary fissure.
Anteriorly - communicates with the orbit via the inferior orbital fissure.
Posteriorly and superiorly - communicates with the Meckel cave and cavernous sinus (of
the middle cranial fossa) via the foramen rotundum.
Posteriorly and inferiorly - communicates with the middle cranial fossa via the vidian
canal, which transmits the Vidian nerve.
Inferiorly - communicates with the palate via the greater and lesser palatine canals 53

54. 54Anatomy skull base

55.  The infratemporal fossa is the space between the skull base, lateral
pharyngeal wall and the ramus of mandible.
Boundaries :-
 Lateral- Ramus and condylar process of the mandible.
 „Medial- Lateral pterygoid plate.
 Anterior – Posterolateral wall of maxilla.
 Posterior – Carotid sheath.
 „Superior - CRANIAL BASE (greater wing of the sphenoid bone).
 „Inferior – Medial pterygoid muscles.
55Anatomy skull base

56.  Pterygoid muscles, medial and Lateral
 „Maxillary artery and vein
 „Pterygoid plexus of veins
 „Mandibular division of trigeminal nerve
 „Otic ganglion
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6. Som and curtin.
7. http://www.med.wayne.edu/diagRadiology/Anatomy_Modules/axialpages/Overview.html
THANKYOU
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