Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation Calvarium:

Gross B – Cranial Vault and Associated Structures  Also known as the skull cap.
Clester F. Bea M.D.  Covers the cranial cavity containing the brain.
 Composed of the Frontal, Parietal and Occipital bones.
Definition of Terms:  During infancy, fontanelles are palpable in this area.
 Skull is the skeleton of the head.  In the midline, there is the presence of the impression of the
 Cranium is the skull without the mandible. superior sagittal sinus.
 Neurocranium is made up of bones that form the cranial vault
and calvarium.
 Viscerocranium is made up of bones that form the facial
skeleton.
 Basicranium is the inferior portion of the skull.
 Calvarium is the top portion of the skull.
 Cranial Vault is the cavity within the skull that houses the brain.

Superior and Inferior View of the Calvaria.

 Another impression is also found in the calvarium, the

The Neurocranium and Viscerocranium of the Human Skull.
The skull is mainly divided into two parts: the neurocranium and the impression of the arachnoid granulation which is the site for
viscerocranium. The neurocranium has two paired and four CSF absorption.
unpaired bones while the viscerocranium has six paired and two
unpaired bones.
Cranial Vault / Cranial Fossa:
Neurocranium:  The cavity within the skull that encloses the brain.
 Also known as the Braincase.  Bowl-shaped depression, exhibiting 3 levels like a stair case.
 Divided into the Calvarium and the Cranial Vault.  Irregular floors are due to the projections of the bones from the
 Paired Bones: Parietal and Temporal base of the skull.
 Unpaired Bones: Ethmoid, Frontal, Occipital and Sphenoid  Have three divisions: The Anterior, Middle and Posterior
 A meeting point of four bones, specifically the Frontal, Parietal, Divisions.
Sphenoid and Temporal is called Pterion. It is here where we find
the impression of the middle meningeal artery. Thinnest part of
the neurocranium.
 Another meeting point is called Asterion located posteriorly. It is
where the Parietal, Occipital and Temporal Bones meet.
 Layers: Outer Cortical, Middle Spongy (Diploe), Inner Cortical

Axial view of the Cranial Fossa showing the bones and its divisions.
Lateral view showing the bones of the neurocranium.

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A. ANTERIOR CRANIAL FOSSA 3. Components of the Lesser Wing of the Sphenoid Bone
a. Sphenoidal Ridges
 Sharp posterior margins that overhand the anterior part of
the middle cranial fossa.
 Serves as posterior boundary for the anterior cranial fossa,
and anterior boundary for the middle cranial fossa.
b. Anterior Clinoid Process
 Projections of this process go to the middle cranial fossa.
 Serves as attachment for the dural reflection called
Tentorium Cerebelli.

B. MIDDLE CRANIAL FOSSA

Anterior Cranial Fossa.

 Contains inferior and anterior parts of the frontal lobe of the

brain.
 Shallowest of the divisions.
 Orbit is found underneath.
 Boundaries:
 Anteriorly: Frontal Crest and Crista Galli
 Lateral: Frontal Bone
 Posterior: Jugum (Sphenoidal Ridge) and the Lesser Wing of Middle Cranial Fossa.

the Sphenoid
 Occupied by half of the surface of the temporal lobe of the
 Composed of the Frontal, Ethmoid and Sphenoid (Lesser Wing)
cerebrum.
bones.
 Located posterior and inferior to the Anterior Cranial Fossa.
 Boundaries:
1. Components of Frontal Bone:
 Anteriorly: Anterior Clinoid Process and Lesser Wing of the
a. Frontal Crest
Sphenoid
 Pointed protrusion of the frontal bone.
 Posterior: Superior Border of the Temporal Bone (Petrous
 Anterior to the crista gali and foramen cecum.
part) and the Dorsum Sella
b. Foramen Cecum
 Composed of the Temporal (Squamous and Petrous part) and
 Found in 1% of the population only. Normally closed,
Sphenoid (Greater Wing and Body) Bones.
between the frontal crest and crista gali.
 Nasal Emissary Vein going to the Sagittal Sinus traverses
1. Body of the Sphenoid Bone:
through this foramen.
 Collectively known as the Sella Turcica (Turk’s Saddle)
Emissary Veins – Portal of entry, connects the veins outside the  Parts:
cranium to the veins inside the cranium.  Tuberculum
 Hypophyseal Fossa – where the Pituitary Gland is situated.
2. Components of the Ethmoid Bone:
 Dorsum Sella – forms attachment of the Tentorium
a. Crista Gali
Cerebelli along with the Anterior Clinoid Process.
 Median process or crest that resembles a Cock’s Comb.
 Projects superiorly from the ethmoid bone.
2. Components of the Greater Wing of the Sphenoid Bone:
 Forms the attachment of the Falx Cerebri along with the
a. Optic Canal
Frontal Crest.
 Passageway of Optic Nerve (CN II), Ophthalmic Artery and
 A perpendicular extension upward into the cranial bone.
Central Vein for the Retina.
b. Cribriform Plate
 If narrowed or occluded, may lead to blindness.
 A narrow, thin, perforated bone that surrounds the crista
b. Superior Orbital Fissure
galli.
 A fissure located between the lesser and greater wing of the
 There are about 15-20 foramens in the plate, which serves
sphenoid bone.
as passage way for the Olfactory Nerve filaments (CN I) to
 Permits communication between the middle cranial fossa
go to the olfactory bulb.
and the orbit.
 The Olfactory Bulb lies on top of the cribriform plate.

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  Transmits the Oculomotor Nerve (CN III), Trochlear Nerve
(CN IV), Ophthalmic Branch of the Trigeminal Nerve (CN
V1), Abducens Nerve (CN VI) and the Ophthalmic Vein.
 Trauma or tumor in the superior orbital fissure will have an
effect in relation to eye movements because the structures
that traverse the fissure control the extra-ocular muscles of
the eye.
c. Foramen Rotundum
 Oval shaped and a short canal.
 Passageway of the Maxillary Branch of Trigeminal Nerve
(CN V2).
d. Foramen Ovale
 Oval in shape located posterior and lateral to the foramen
rotundum.
 Opens to the infratemporal fossa inferiorly.
 Serves as a passageway for the Mandibular Branch of the
Trigeminal Nerve (CN V3), Accessory Meningeal Artery and
Lesser Superficial Petrosal Nerve.
e. Foramen Spinosum
 Smallest foramen of middle cranial fossa found
posterolateral to the foramen ovale.
 Transmits the Middle Meningeal Artery, Middle Meningeal
Vein, and the Meningeal Branch of the Mandibular Branch
of the Trigeminal Nerve (CN V3).
f. Foramen Lacerum
 Rugged canal posterolateral to the foramen ovale.
 Anatomists don’t consider this as a true foramen.
 Formed by the Carotid Canal and Pterygoid Canal.
 At its superior end, the Internal Carotid Artery and
accompanying Sympathetic and Venous Plexuses are
found.
3. Squamous Part of the Temporal Bone
 Greatest contributor to the temporal bone.
 Thin, flat plate that forms part of the lateral wall of the cranial
cavity.
 Projects anteriorly as the zygomatic arch and turns inferiorly to
form the mandibular fossa.
 Provides attachment for the temporalis muscle.
4. Petrous Part of the Temporal Bone
 Supposed to be the hardest bone, named after the the disciple,
Peter, who is known as “The Rock.”
 Houses the Organ of Corti, which is the organ receptor for
hearing.
 Houses the middle and internal ear anatomy.
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C. POSTERIOR CRANIAL FOSSA
Posterior Cranial Fossa.
 Largest and deepest of the three divisions.
 Occupies the entire occipital bone.
 Houses the Cerebellum, Pons and Medulla Oblongata.
 Clivus is found below the dorsum sellae and is inclined to the
foramen magnum.
 Boundaries:
 Anteromedial: Dorsum Sellae of Sphenoid Bone
 Anterolateral: Petrous and Mastoid Part of the Temporal
Bone
 Posterior: Occipital Bone
 Composed of the Temporal and Occipital Bones.
a. Internal Auditory Meatus
 Lies superior to the anterior part of the jugular foramen in
the petrous portion of the temporal bone.
 Structures that pass through this foramen:
 Facial Nerve (CN VII)
 Vestibulocochlear Nerve (CN VIII)
 Labyrinthine Vessels / Internal Auditory Vessels –
Supplies the middle ear.
b. Jugular Foramen
 Found between the occipital bone and the petrous portion
of the temporal bone, at the distal end of the groove for the
sigmoid sinus.
 Structures that pass through this foramen:
 Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN IX)
 Vagus Nerve (CN X)
 Accessory Nerve (CN XI)
 Posterior Meningeal Artery
 Sigmoid Sinus (Inferior Petrosal Sinus) via Internal
Jugular Vein
c. Hypoglossal Canal
 Found between the jugular foramen and occipital condyle.
 Structures that pass through this foramen:
 Hypoglossal Nerve (CN XII)
d. Condylar Canal
 Found at the inferior end of the groove for sigmoid sinus.
  Transmits an emissary vein from the sigmoid sinus as it
drains towards the vertebral vein in the neck.
e. Mastoid Foramen
 Located at the mastoid portion of the temporal bone.
 Structures that pass through this foramen:
 Emissary Vein from Sigmoid Sinus
 Meningeal Branch of Occipital Artery
f. Foramen Magnum
 Largest of all the foramen in the skull.
 Structures that pass through this foramen:
 Spinal Roots of Accessory Nerve (CN XI)
 Medulla Oblongata
 Meninges
 Vertebral Artery (and its Meningeal Branches)
 Meningeal Branches of the Cervical Nerves (C1-C3)
 Anterior and Posterior Spinal Artery
6. GROOVE FOR TRANSVERSE SINUS
 Runs along the occipital and temporal bones to connect the
grooves for the sigmoid sinus.
7. STRAIGHT SINUS
 Not in contact with bone, therefore does not leave any
groove or impression.
8. GROOVE FOR SUPERIOR SAGITTAL SINUS
 From the confluence sinus, a groove running superiorly
along the midline of the posterior aspect of the occipital
bone and continues on the underside of the calvarium.
9. GROOVE FOR INFERIOR SAGITTAL SINUS
 Not in contact with bone, therefore does not leave any
groove or impression.

Impressions of the Dural Sinuses:

Dural Venous Sinuses

1. DEPRESSION FOR THE CAVERNOUS SINUS

 Identified on either side of the hypophyseal fossa on the
middle cranial fossa.
2. GROOVE FOR THE SUPERIOR PETROSAL SINUSES
 Found at the apex of of the petrous portion of the temporal
bone.
3. GROOVE FOR THE SIGMOID SINUS
 S-Shaped groove in the temporal and occipital bone
posteriorly.
4. GROOVE FOR THE INFERIOR PETROSAL SINUS
 Runs along the the floor of the neurocranium inferior to the
superior petrosal sinus between the cavernous sinus and
jugular foramen. Usually too small to identify.
5. DEPRESSION FOR CONFLUENCE OF SINUSES
Valar se Abrar Rebis!
 Midline of the occipital bone near the posterior part of the
“All Men and Women Must Pass!”
floor of the neurocranium.

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