{"id":4451,"date":"2021-02-09T22:37:33","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T21:37:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/skull\/cranial-fossae\/middle-cranial-fossa\/"},"modified":"2021-02-10T23:58:21","modified_gmt":"2021-02-10T22:58:21","slug":"middle-cranial-fossa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/skull-head-and-neck\/skull\/views-of-the-skull\/cranial-fossae\/middle-cranial-fossa\/","title":{"rendered":"Middle cranial fossa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having a characteristic <strong>butterfly shape<\/strong>, the middle cranial fossa is formed mostly by the sphenoid and temporal bones. It is separated from the middle cranial fossa by the sphenoidal limbus (centrally) and the sphenoidal crests (laterally).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is separated from the posterior cranial fossa by the dorsum sellae of the sphenoid (medially) and the superior border of the petrous segment of the temporal bone (laterally).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_1\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Bones<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_1\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The middle cranial fossa is formed by the following bones:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The ala major of the sphenoid (greater wing)<\/li><li>The Squamous part of the temporal bone<\/li><li>The anterolateral surface of the pyramid of the temporal bone<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Landmarks<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following structures can be found within the middle cranial fossa:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Temporal lobes<\/li><li>Sella turcica<\/li><li>Pituitary gland<\/li><li>The Crescent of four foramina<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the lateral segments of the middle cranial fossa, rest the temporal lobes of the cerebrum. The center of the middle cranial fossa is occupied by the <strong>sella turcica (from <\/strong><strong><em>Latin: <\/em><\/strong><strong>turkish saddle)<\/strong>. This bony structure rests on the sphenoid bone, surrounded by the anterior and posterior clinoid processes, and <strong>contains the pituitary gland<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_2\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">The sella turcica is composed of the following three structures:<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_2\">\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Tuberculum sellae<\/li><li>Hypophysial fossa<\/li><li>Dorsum sellae<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_3\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Tuberculum sellae (horn of saddle)<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_3\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is a slight bone elevation located in the anterior region of the sphenoid body. Forms the anterior boundary of the hypophysial fossa and the posterior limit of the prechiasmatic sulcus.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_4\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Hypophysial fossa (pituitary fossa)<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_4\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saddle-like central depression <strong>where the pituitary gland is located<\/strong>. It is located in the body of the sphenoid.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_5\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Dorsum sellae (back of the saddle)<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_5\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Square bone plate<\/strong> over the body of the sphenoid located on the back edge of the sella turcica. The posterior clinoid processes are formed for its prominent superolateral angles.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The middle cranial fossa contains a group of cavities located on each side of the body of the sphenoid. This <strong>crescent of four foramina <\/strong>makes their way by drilling the roots of the brain surfaces of the greater wings of the sphenoid.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_6\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">The Crescent of four foramina includes:<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_6\">\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Superior orbital fissure<\/li><li>Round foramen<\/li><li>Foramen ovale<\/li><li>Spinous foramen<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_7\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Superior orbital fissure<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_7\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It opens anteriorly in the orbit, it is located between the major and minor wings of the sphenoid. The structures that pass through the Superior Orbital Fissure are: Oculomotor nerve (CN III), trochlear nerve (CN IV), ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve ( CN V1), abducent nerve (CN VI), and ophthalmic veins.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_8\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Round foramen (rotundum):<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_8\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Posterior to the medial end of the superior orbital fissure, it is related to the sphenoid, maxilla, palatine bones, and pterygopalatine fossa. The maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve (CN V2) passes through this foramen.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_9\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Foramen ovale<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_9\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Located posterolateral to the round foramen. Opens inferiorly into the <strong>infratemporal fossa<\/strong>. The mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (CN V3) and the lesser petrosal nerve pass through the foramen ovale.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_10\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Spinous foramen<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_10\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This foramen opens into the infratemporal fossa in relationship to the spine of the sphenoid and it <strong>is placed postero-lateral to the foramen oval<\/strong>. Includes the Middle meningeal artery.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another important foramen is the foramen lacerated (lacerum). Despite not being part of the crescent of four foramina, this structure maintains an important relationship with the <strong>greater petrous nerve<\/strong>, since it finds its groove laterally and posterior to the foramen lacerated.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/span><div id=\"the_titles\" style=\"display:none;\"><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bones<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The sella turcica is composed of the following three structures:<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tuberculum sellae (horn of saddle)<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hypophysial fossa (pituitary fossa)<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dorsum sellae (back of the saddle)<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Crescent of four foramina includes:<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Superior orbital fissure<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Round foramen (rotundum):<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Foramen ovale<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spinous foramen<\/h4><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Having a characteristic butterfly shape, the middle cranial fossa is formed mostly by the sphenoid and temporal bones. It is separated from the middle cranial fossa by the sphenoidal limbus (centrally) and the sphenoidal crests (laterally).&nbsp; It is separated from the posterior cranial fossa by the dorsum sellae of the sphenoid (medially) and the superior [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":4449,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4451","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Middle cranial fossa &#8211; Meddists<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/skull-head-and-neck\/skull\/views-of-the-skull\/cranial-fossae\/middle-cranial-fossa\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/meddists.com\\\/learn\\\/pre-clinical\\\/anatomy\\\/skull-head-and-neck\\\/skull\\\/views-of-the-skull\\\/cranial-fossae\\\/middle-cranial-fossa\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/meddists.com\\\/learn\\\/pre-clinical\\\/anatomy\\\/skull-head-and-neck\\\/skull\\\/views-of-the-skull\\\/cranial-fossae\\\/middle-cranial-fossa\\\/\",\"name\":\"Middle cranial fossa &#8211; 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