Middle Cranial Fossa Flashcards

Examine the middle cranial fossa, including its bony boundaries, temporal lobe relationships, foramina, cranial nerves, and vascular landmarks.

Card 1 of 30Question

Where is the middle cranial fossa located?

Between the anterior and posterior cranial fossae, in the central portion of the internal cranial base.

In This Section

1. Where is the middle cranial fossa located?

Between the anterior and posterior cranial fossae, in the central portion of the internal cranial base.

2. Which bones form the middle cranial fossa?

The sphenoid bone and the squamous and petrous parts of the temporal bones.

3. Which parts of the brain occupy the lateral portions of the middle cranial fossa?

The temporal lobes of the cerebral hemispheres.

4. What forms the anterior boundary of the middle cranial fossa?

The posterior borders of the sphenoid lesser wings, anterior clinoid processes, and sphenoidal limbus.

5. What forms the posterior boundary of the middle cranial fossa?

The superior borders of the petrous temporal bones and the dorsum sellae.

6. Which parts of the sphenoid bone form much of the middle cranial fossa floor?

The body and greater wings of the sphenoid bone.

7. What is the sella turcica?

A saddle-shaped depression on the superior surface of the sphenoid body.

8. Which structure occupies the hypophyseal fossa?

The pituitary gland.

9. What is the tuberculum sellae?

A bony elevation forming the anterior boundary of the hypophyseal fossa.

10. What is the dorsum sellae?

A vertical bony plate forming the posterior boundary of the sella turcica.

11. Which structure lies immediately superior to the pituitary gland?

The optic chiasm, separated from the gland by the diaphragma sellae and intervening structures.

12. Which structures pass through the optic canal?

The optic nerve (cranial nerve II) and ophthalmic artery.

13. Which cranial nerves pass through the superior orbital fissure?

The oculomotor (III), trochlear (IV), ophthalmic (V1), and abducens (VI) nerves.

14. Which nerve passes through the foramen rotundum?

The maxillary nerve (V2), entering the pterygopalatine fossa.

15. Which nerve passes through the foramen ovale?

The mandibular nerve (V3), entering the infratemporal fossa.

16. Which major artery passes through the foramen spinosum?

The middle meningeal artery.

17. Which additional structures accompany the middle meningeal artery through the foramen spinosum?

The middle meningeal vein and meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve.

18. What occupies the foramen lacerum in the living skull?

It is largely filled with fibrocartilage.

19. What is the relationship of the internal carotid artery to the foramen lacerum?

It passes over the superior aspect of the foramen after leaving the carotid canal.

20. Where is the trigeminal ganglion located?

Within Meckel's cave near the apex of the petrous temporal bone.

21. Which cranial nerve division emerges from the trigeminal ganglion without passing through a separate skull base foramen?

The ophthalmic division (V1), which travels toward the superior orbital fissure.

22. Where are the cavernous sinuses located?

On either side of the sphenoid body and sella turcica.

23. Which nerve travels within the cavernous sinus beside the internal carotid artery?

The abducens nerve (cranial nerve VI).

24. Which cranial nerves run within the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus?

The oculomotor (III), trochlear (IV), ophthalmic (V1), and maxillary (V2) nerves.

25. What is the arcuate eminence of the petrous temporal bone?

A rounded elevation on its anterior surface commonly associated with the superior semicircular canal.

26. What is the tegmen tympani?

A thin bony plate forming the roof of the middle ear cavity and separating it from the middle cranial fossa.

27. Which nerve emerges through the hiatus for the greater petrosal nerve?

The greater petrosal nerve, a branch of the facial nerve.

28. Which venous sinus runs along the superior border of the petrous temporal bone?

The superior petrosal sinus.

29. Why can a middle cranial fossa fracture cause cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea?

A fracture involving the tegmen tympani and meninges may allow cerebrospinal fluid to enter the middle ear.

30. Which intracranial hemorrhage may result from injury to the middle meningeal artery near the middle cranial fossa?

An epidural hematoma.