This document lists the bones, foramina, vessels, and nerves associated with the different fossae of the cranium. It details the frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, maxilla, palatine, and temporal bones and identifies the structures that pass through openings in each bone. Key structures mentioned include the optic canal carrying the optic nerve through the sphenoid bone and the foramen ovale transmitting the mandibular nerve through the sphenoid bone.

1. Bone
Cranial
fossa
Foramina Vessels Nerves
frontal -
supraorbital
foramen
supraorbital
artery, supraorbital
vein
supraorbital nerve
frontal
anterior
cranial
fossa
foramen
cecum
emissary
veins to superior
sagittal sinus
-
ethmoid -
foramina of
cribriform
plate
- olfactory nerve bundles (I)
ethmoid
anterior
cranial
fossa
anterior
ethmoidal
foramen
anterior ethmoidal
artery
anterior ethmoidal
vein
anterior ethmoidal nerve
ethmoid
anterior
cranial
fossa
posterior
ethmoidal
foramen
posterior ethmoidal
artery
posterior ethmoidal
vein
posterior ethmoidal nerve
sphenoid - optic canal ophthalmic artery optic nerve (II)
sphenoid
middle
cranial
fossa
superior
orbital fissure
superior ophthalmic
vein
oculomotor nerve (III)
trochlear nerve (IV)
lacrimal, frontal and nasociliary branc
hes of ophthalmic nerve (V1)
abducent nerve (VI)
sphenoid middle
cranial
foramen
- maxillary nerve (V2)

2. fossa rotundum
maxilla -
incisive
foramen/incisi
ve canals
sphenopalatine
artery
nasopalatine nerve(V2)
palatine -
greater
palatine
foramen
greater palatine
artery
greater palatine
vein
greater palatine nerve
palatine andmaxill
a
-
lesser palatine
foramina
lesser palatine
artery
lesser palatine vein
lesser palatine nerve
sphenoid andmaxil
la
-
inferior orbital
fissure
inferior ophthalmic
veins
infraorbital artery
infraorbital vein
zygomatic nerve and infraorbital
nerve ofmaxillary nerve (V2)
orbital branches of pterygopalatine
ganglion
maxilla -
infraorbital
foramen
infraorbital artery
infraorbital vein
infraorbital nerve
sphenoid
middle
cranial
fossa
foramen ovale
accessory
meningeal artery
mandibular nerve (V3)
lesser petrosal nerve (occasionally)
sphenoid
middle
cranial
fossa
foramen
spinosum
middle meningeal
artery
meningeal branch of the mandibular
nerve(V3)
sphenoid
middle
cranial
fossa
foramen
lacerum
internal carotid
artery, artery of
pterygoid canal
nerve of pterygoid canal

3. temporal
posterio
r cranial
fossa
internal
acoustic
meatus
labyrinthine artery
facial nerve (VII), vestibulocochlear
nerve(VIII)
temporal
posterio
r cranial
fossa
jugular
foramen
internal jugular
vein, inferior
petrosal
sinus, sigmoid
sinus
glossopharyngeal nerve (IX), vagus
nerve(X), accessory nerve (XI)
occipital
posterio
r cranial
fossa
hypoglossal
canal
- hypoglossal nerve (XII)
occipital
posterio
r cranial
fossa
foramen
magnum
anterior and posteri
or spinal
arteries, vertebral
arteries
medulla oblongata
temporal
posterio
r cranial
fossa
stylomastoid
foramen
stylomastoid artery facial nerve