MIDDLE CRANIAL FOSSA and structures passing through

middle cranial fossa and related structures

1. MIDDLE CRANIAL FOSSA DR . JITEN LAD 2 ND YEAR RESIDENT DOCTOR DEPT OF E.N.T

2. INTERNAL SURFACE OF BASE OF SKULL Internal surface of base of skull presents natural subdivisions into anterior, middle and posterior cranial fossae.

3. MIDDLE CRANIAL FOSSA It is deeper than the anterior cranial fossa. It is shaped like a butterfly, being narrow and shallow in the middle; wide and deep on each side.

4. BOUNDRIES Anterior:- Posterior border of lesser wing of Sphenoid Anterior clinoid process Anterior margin of Sulcus Chiasmaticus .

5. Posterior:- Superior border of petrous part of temporal bone Dorsum Sella of Sphenoid Lateral:- Greater wing of sphenoid Anteroinferior angle of parietal bone Squamous part of temporal bone Floor:- Sphenoid in median region

6. FORAMEN CONTENT OPTIC CANAL -OPTIC NERVE (CN II) -OPTHALMIC ARTERIES SUPERIOR ORBITAL FISSURE -OPTHALMIC VEIN -OPTHALMIC NERVE (CN V1) -CRANIAL NERVE III, IV, VI -SYMPATHETIC FIBERS FORAMEN ROTUNDUM -MAXILLARY NERVE ( CN V2) FORAMEN OVALE -MANDIBULAR NERVE ( CN V3) -ACCESSORY MENINGEAL ARTERY -LESSER PETROSAL NERVE -EMISSARY VEIN FORAMEN SPINOSUM -MIDDLE MENINGEAL ARTERY AND VEIN -EMISSARY VEIN -NERVUS SPINOSUS (MENINGEAL BRANCH OF MANDIBULAR NERVE) FORAMEN LACERUM -MEINGEAL BRANCH OF ASCENDING PHARYNGEAL ARTERY -EMISSARY VEIN   -GREATER PETROSAL NERVE -INTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY

7. CAROTID CANAL - INTERNAL CARTID ARTERY -INTERNAL CAROTID VENOUS PLEXUS -SYMPATHETIC NERVE PLEXUS HIATUS FOR LESSER PETROSAL NERVE -LESSER PETROSAL NERVE HIATUS FOR GREATER PETROSAL NERVE -GREATER PETROSAL NERVE -PETROSAL BRANCH OF MIDDLE MENINGEAL ARTERY