86 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



termination of the carotid groove, and lodges the internal carotid 

 artery. 



On either side of the body, close to the inner side of the anterior 

 extremity of the carotid groove and posterior to the carotid notch, 

 opposite the anterior clinoid process, there is usually a small 

 tubercle, called the middle clinoid process. It is connected with 

 the anterior clinoid process by the carotico-clinoid ligament, which 

 bridges over the carotid notch. When this ligament undergoes 

 ossification a carotico-clinoid foramen is formed, through which the 

 internal carotid artery ascends after leaving the carotid groove. 



In front of the carotid notch, between the upper and lower roots 

 of the small wing, there is a circular aperture, called the optic 

 foramen, which leads forwards and outwards into the orbit, and 

 transmits the optic nerve and the ophthalmic artery. 



The great or temporal wings (alisphenoids) extend outwards, 

 upwards, and forwards from the sides of the body. The posterior 

 part of each projects backwards, and ends in a pointed extremity, 

 which is received within the petro-squamous angle of the temporal 

 bone. From this extremity a sharp projection extends downwards 

 for a short distance, called the spinous process or alar spine, which 

 presents a groove on its inner aspect for the chorda tympani nerve. 

 Anterior to this groove and encroaching on the posterior border 

 of the great wing, is another groove for the cartilaginous part of 

 the Eustachian tube. The spinous process gives attachment to 

 (i) the spheno-mandibular ligament, (2) some fibres of the tensor 

 palati, and (3) the anterior ligament of the malleus, or band of 

 Meckel. 



Each great wing presents three surfaces — superior, antero- 

 internal, and external : and four borders — posterior, external, 

 anterior, and internal. 



The superior or cerebral surface, which at its front part rises 

 almost vertically upwards, is concave, and enters into the formation 

 of the lateral division of the middle cranial fossa. It supports 

 the temporo-sphenoidal lobe of the cerebrum, and presents a few 

 digitate impressions, whilst externally it is grooved for a branch 

 of the middle meningeal artery. This surface presents several 

 important foramina. At the anterior part of its attachment to 

 the side of the body, just below the inner end of the sphenoidal 

 fissure, is the foramen rotundum, which is directed from behind 

 forwards and transmits the superior maxillary division of the 

 fifth cranial nerve. A little behind and external to this foramen 

 is the foramen ovale, of large size and opening vertically dovn 

 wards, for the passage of the inferior maxillary division and the 

 motor root of the fifth cranial nerve, the small meningeal artery, 

 an emissary vein from the cavernous sinus, and sometimes the 

 small superficial petrosal nerve. Internal and anterior to the 

 foramen ovale, between it and the lingula sphenoidalis, there is 

 sometimes a small opening, called the toramen Vesalii, which 

 leads to the scaphoid fossa on the outer side of the root of 



