Major Foramina of the Skull

Foramen

Vascular contents

Nerve contents

Supraorbital foramen

Supraorbital artery & vein

Supraorbital nerve

Infraorbital foramen

Infraorbital artery & vein

Infraorbital nerve

Superior orbital fissure

Superior ophthalmic vein

III – IV – V1 – VI

Inferior orbital fissure

Inferior ophthalmic veins
Infraorbital artery and vein

Zygomatic and Infraorbital branches of maxillary nerve (V2)
Orbital branches of pterygopalatine ganglion

Optic canal

Ophthalmic artery

Optic nerve (II)

Foramen cecum

Emissary veins to superior sagittal sinus

Cribriform plate

Olfactory nerve bundles (I)

Foramen rotundum

Maxillary nerve (V₂)

Foramen ovale

Accessory meningeal artery

mandibular nerve (V3)

Foramen spinosum

Middle meningeal artery

Meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve (V3)

Foramen lacerum

Internal carotid artery, artery of pterygoid canal

Nerve of pterygoid canal

Internal acoustic meatus

Labyrinthine artery

Facial nerve (vii), vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)

Jugular foramen

Inferior petrosal sinus, sigmoid sinus

Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX), Vagus nerve (X),accessory nerve (XI)

Hypoglossal canal

Hypoglossal nerve (XII)

Foramen magnum

Anterior and posterior spinal arteries, vertebral arteries

Medulla oblongata

Hypoglossal nerve

Cervical components of accessory

Stylomastoid foramen

Stylomastoid artery

Facial nerve

Vertebral Foramina

Transverse foramen

Vertebral artery (C6-C1)

Vertebral vein (C1-C7)

Sympathetic nerves

Vertebral foramen

Important Spinal Ligaments

Ligament

Function

Location

Anterior longitudinal ligament

Limits over-extension – supports the front of intervertebral discs

Whole spine

Posterior longitudinal ligament

Limits over-flexion – supports the back of intervertebral discs

Whole spine

Ligamentum flavum

Limits over-flexion

Whole spine

Supraspinous ligament

Limits over-flexion

Thoracic & Lumbar spine

Interspinous ligament

Limits over-flexion

Lumbar spine

Ligamentum nuchae

Limits over-flexion

Cervical spine

Alar ligament

Limits neck rotation & lateral flexion

Between Axis & occipital condyles of both sides

Transverse ligament

Secures the dense posteriorly 

Between two lateral masses of axis

Important Spinal Joints

Intervertebral synovial joints

Between superior and inferior articular process

Synovial joint

Medial atlanto-axial joint

Between dense (C2) and articular facet (C1) – supported posteriorly by transverse ligament

Pivot synovial joint

Lateral atlanto-axial joint

Between inferior facet of C1 masses and superior facets of C2

Plane synovial joint