FORAMINA AND APERTURES OF THE SKULL. 41 
Xi. 
X11. 
Xill. 
The canal is traversed by the external 
carotid artery. 
The foramen rotundum opens di- 
rectly anterior to the posterior open- 
ing of the ali-sphenoid canal and 
transmits the maxillary division of 
the fifth nerve. 
The foramen lacerum anterius, or 
sphenoidal fissure, is situated be- 
tween the basal portions of the ali- 
sphenoid and orbito-sphenoid. It is a 
large irregular opening and transmits 
the motor-occuli (iii), pathetie (iv), 
and abducent (vi), nerves, and the 
ophthalmie division of the. fifth 
nerve, 
The optie foramen is a large aper- 
ture in the orbito-sphenoid : it trans- 
mits the optic nerve. 
. The posterior palatine foramina are 
a series—usually six—of small aper- 
tures, bordering the suture between 
the palatines and maxille; they trans- 
mit branches of the fifth nerve and 
blood vessels. 
xv. The anterior palatine foramina are 
two large oval apertures in the median 
line bordered posteriorly by the max- 
illaz, and anteriorly by the premaxille. 
Through them the naso-palatine 
branch of the fifth nerve passes. 
