Cranial Fossae notes

Base of the skull  has 3 subdivisions on its inner surface:

3 Cranial fossae: Anterior, middle, posterior

Anterior Cranial Fossae

Boundaries:
Posteriorly  edges of the lesser wings of the sphenoid
Medially  anterior edge of the optic groove of the sphenoid
Appearance:
Floor of the Median Part  depressed; constitutes the roof of the nasal cavity
Median part  formed by the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone
Lodges the:
Frontal lobes of the brain
Olfactory bulbs and tracts

Contents of the Anterior Cranial Fossae

Crista Galli (cock’s comb)
Foramen Caecum
Rises form the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone
An upward continuation of the nasal septum
Gives attachment to the anterior end of the falx cerebri
Small pit found directly in front of the crista.
It is where the superior longitudinal sinus communicates with the veins of the nose
Open in early life; but closes during the adult life

Cribriform plate of the Perforated like a sieve by numerous olfactory nerves

(Olfactory nerves are clothed in an arachnoid sheath and arise from the olfactory cells of the nasal
ethmoid bone
mucosa)

Found at the sides of the cribriform plate

Anterior and Posterior
ethmoidal foramina
Nasal Slit
Roof of the Frontal sinus
Roof of the Orbit
They mark the medial ends of the two short canals that lead from the orbital cavity and
open at the side of the cribriform plate
They transmit the anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries and the anterior ethmoidal
nerve
Found at the side of the front of the crista galli
It is where the anterior ethmoidal artery and nerve descends toward the nose after
passing through the anterior ethmoidal foramina
Found anterolateral to the median area of the anterior cranial fossa

 Clinical Correlations:

Fractures of the anterior fossa may involve the cribriform plate, accompanied by (1) lacerations of the meninges
and (2) lacerations of the mucous membrane of the roof of the nose.

(1) Lacerations of the meninges and (2) Lacerations of the mucous membrane of the roof of
Epistaxis (nose bleeding)
the nose. Accompanied/followed by a discharge of CSF.
Loss of smell after
Due to lacerations of the olfactory nerves as they pass upward from the nose
epistaxis
Dural injury Affords a route for infection to travel from the nose to the intercranial region
Meningitis (Abscess in the
Follows after fracture of the anterior cranial fossa.
frontal lobe)
Continuous discharge of CSF from the nose due to (1) failure of the cribriform plate to heal
Cerebrospinal rhinorrhea
after fracture and (2) failure to repair dural lacerations
Subconjunctival
If the fracture of the anterior fossa involves the orbital plate of the frontal bone
hemorrhage
Protrusion of the eyeball.
Exophthalmos
Occurs when the hemorrhage (subconjunctival hemorrhage) seeps within the orbit.

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 Middle Cranial Fossa
Shaped like a “butterfly”. Have a small median and 2 lateral expanded concave parts
Boundaries:
Floor of Median part  formed by the upper surface of the body of sphenoid
Floor of Lateral part  formed by (1) the greater wing of sphenoid
(2) the upper aspect of the petrous part of the temporal and
(3) a portion of the squamous part of the temporal bone.
At the lateral parts of the floor of the middle cranial fossa lodges the  temporal lobes of the brain.

Contents of the Middle Cranial Fossae

Sella turcica Saddle-shaped area that accommodates the pituitary gland
(hypophysial fossa)
Tuberculum sellae A ridge found anterior to the sella turcica
Anterior clinoid process Found on either side of the tuberculum sellae
Optic foramen Found anterior to the ant.clinoid process
Optic groove
Crest of Dorsum sellae Forms the posterior part of sella turcica
Posterior clinoid process The lateral end portion of the dorsum sellae
Transmits to the orbital cavity the:
(1) oculumotor (2) trochlear (3) ophthalmic division of the trigeminal (4) abducens nerves
(5) some filaments from the cavernous plexus of the sympathetic system and
Superior Orbital fissure
(6) orbital branch of the meningeal artery.
Transmits from the orbital cavity to the dura matter:
(1) Opthalmic Veins and (2) a recurrent branch of the lacrimal artery.
Found on either side of the sella turcica for the internal carotid artery.
Carotid Groove Foramen rotundum, foramen ovale and foramen spinosum run almost parallel to this
groove, from anterior to posterior and from medial to lateral
Foramen rotundum For passage of maxillary nerve
For passage of (1) mandibular nerve, (2) accessory meningeal artery, and
Foramen ovale
(3) lesser petrosal nerve
For passage of (1) middle meningeal vessels and
Foramen spinosum
(2) a recurrent branch of the mandibular nerve
Found medial to the foramen ovale.
A short wide canal, rather than a foramen. Its lower part filled by a layer of fibrocartilage.
Foramen lacerum
Upper and inner parts: transmits the internal carotid artery (surrounded by a plexus of
sympathetic nerves)
The highest part of the petrous portion of the temporal bone
Arcuate eminence
Marks the position of the superior semicircular canal
Found lateral to the arcuate eminence and immediately adjoining the squamous portion of
the bone.
Tegmen tympani Very thin. Roofs the tympanic antrum, the tympanic cavity and the auditory tube.
The only barrier between a diseased middle ear and membranes of the brain or the brain
itself.
A small slit seen lower down on the anterior surface and about midway between the apex of
the petrous temporal and the side of the skull.
Hiatus for the greater
Communicates with the facial canal in the interior of the bone
superficial petrosal nerve
Transmits a slender nerve. Slender nerve originates from the facial in the substance of the
temporal bone and runs in the medial direction forward to the foramen lacerum.
Found at the upper aspect of the petrous temporal.
Represented by a slightly hollowed-out area.
Trigeminal impression
Lodges the trigeminal ganglion which extends forward over the upper and lateral parts of
the foramen lacerum.

 Clinical Correlation:
 Middle cranial fossa  most common site of fracture in the skull because of:
(1) its position
(2) presence of many foramina and canals.
 Fractures may also pass through the sphenoid bone or base of the occipital bone and cause bleeding into
the mouth.
 Usually, tegmen tympani is fractured and tympanic membrane torn. Then Blood and CSF are discharged
from the ex.auditory meatus and appear at the ear. The facial and auditory nerves may be involved.
 At times, walls of the cavernous sinus are lacerated and cranial nerves 3, 4 and 6, which lie in relation to
its lateral wall may also be injured.

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 Posterior cranial fossae
Largest and the deepest of the cranial fossae
Floor: formed by the (1) basilar, Lodges the: hindbrain
(2) the condylar and (cerebellum, pons and
(3) the squamous parts of the occipital bone medulla oblongata)
Lateral wall: formed by
(1) the posterior surface of the petrous and
(2) the medial surface of the mastoid part of the temporal bone

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Contents of the Posterior Cranial Fossae
Most prominent feature of the fossa
Marks the lowest part of the posterior cranial fossa.
Transmits a number of structures such as: (1) medulla oblongata
Foramen magnum
(2) meninges
(3) vertebral arteries and
(4) ascending parts of the accessory nerves.
Anterior condylar Found at the anterolateral boundary of the foramen magnum
canal (hypoglossal Transmits the hyopoglossal nerve
canal) Frequently divided into two parts by a small bar of bone
Broad, sloping surface that exists between (1) the anterior margin of the foramen magnum and
Clivus (2) the root of the dorsum sellae
Related to the pons and the medulla oblongata
Found at the posterior aspect of the petrous temporal and runs laterally into the bone.
Passes through it the:
Internal auditory motor and the sensory roots of the (1) facial nerve,
meatus (2) the auditory nerve,
(3) the internal auditory branch of the basilar artery and
(4) the auditory vein which joins the inferior petrosal sinus.
Found between (1) the lateral part of the occipital and
(2) the petrous part of the temporal bone.
It is a large aperture with irregular margins and transmits 3 sets of structures.
At times small spicules of bone project from its margin and may divide it partly or completely
into 3 compartments.
anteromedial compartment: transmits (1) the inferior petrosal sinus and
(2) a meningeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal
Jugular foramen
artery
middle compartment: transmits (1) the glossopharyngeal,
(2) the vagus and
(3) accessory nerves
posterolateral compartment: larger than the other two compartments
transmits: (1) the sigmoid sinus as it becomes the internal jugular vein
(2) a meningeal branch of the occipital artery.
Passes through the anterior part of the jugular foramen
Inferior petrosal sinus
Becomes the internal jugular vein immediately outside of the skull.
Begins at the side of the internal occipital protuberance and sweeps around the cranial vault to
Transverse groove the lateral end of the upper margin of the petrous temporal.
Right transverse groove is wider than the left because it usually receives the sagittal sinus.
Curves downward and descends along the side wall of the skull and extends in a medial
Sigmoid groove
direction to end at the jugular foramen
An aperture of variable size which leads from the exterior of the skull into the sigmoid groove on
the side wall of the posterior cranial fossa.
Mastoid Foramen Passes through it: (1) the mastoid vein,
(2) the mastoid emissary vein and
(3) the mastoid branch of the occipital artery
Aqueduct of vestibule found about 1/2 inch lateral to the internal auditory meatus
(aqueductus vestibuli)

 Clinical Correlation
 Fractures of posterior cranial fossa is more important than other injuries because only a small fissure fracture
may prove to be fatal.
 Fractures may be overlooked since (1) the bone is thin and (2) there is no outlet for the escape of blood and CSF
as in anterior and the middle fossae.
 Blood may be noted over the mastoid process some days after the injury.
 Fractures of the base of the skull involving the hypoglossal canal may be manifested by paralysis of one side of
the tongue.

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