152 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



pituitary fossa for the pituitary body; the cavernous or carotid 



groove, at either side of the sella turcica, for the cavernous 

 venous sinus and internal carotid artery, the latter being accom- 

 panied by the cavernous sympathetic plexus of nerves, and having 

 the sixth cranial nerve on its outer side ; the middle clinoid 

 process of each side (sometimes connected with the anterior, 

 which it faces) ; the dorsum sellae ; the posterior clinoid process 

 of each side, at either lateral angle of the dorsum sellae ; and the 

 notch for the sixth cranial nerve, on each side of the dorsum 

 sellae a little below the posterior clinoid process. The central 

 division corresponds with the interpeduncular region at the base of 

 the cerebrum. 



Each lateral division i? marked by menirgeal grooves and 

 digitate impressior;s, and presents the following openings : the 

 sphenoidal fissure, or foramen lacerum anterius or orbitale, for the 

 third cranial nerve, the fourth, the three branches of the ophthalmic 

 division of the fifth (namely, frontal, lachrymal, and nasal), and 

 the sixth cranial nerves, the sympathetic root of the ciliary ganglion, 

 the superior and inferior ophthalmic veins, the orbital branch of 

 the middle meningeal artery, and a portion of the dura mater to 

 form the orbital periosteum ; the foramen rotundum, leading to the 

 spheno-maxillary fossa, and transmitting the superior maxillary 

 division of the fifth cranial nerve ; the foramen ovale, leading to the 

 zygomatic fossa, and transmitting 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 occasionally 

 the small superficial petrosal nerve ; the foramen Vesalii (inconstant), 

 leading to the scaphoid fossa at the root of the internal pterygoid 

 plate, or to the pterygoid fossa external to the scaphoid fossa, 

 and transmitting an emissary vein from the cavernous sinus; 

 the foramen spinosum, leading to the zygomatic fossa, and trans- 

 mitting the middle meningeal artery and a recurrent branch of 

 the inferior maxillary nerve; and the foramen lacerum medium 

 situated between the basilar process of the occipital, the apex of 

 the petrous portion of the temporal, and the great wing of the 

 sphenoid near the root of the pterygoid process. The posterior 

 opening of the Vidian canal, which leads to the spheno-maxillary 

 fossa and transmits the Vidian nerve and artery, is to be fourd 

 on its anterior wall, while the carotid canal for the internal carotid 

 artery, with a plexus of sympathetic nerve fibres, opens on its j 

 external wall. 1 



The superior surface of the petrous portion of the temporal 

 presents the following markings : the Gasserian depression, near 

 the apex, for the Gasserian ganglion ; the hiatus Fallopii, to which 

 a groove conducts for the great superficial petrosal nerve and 

 the petrosal branch of the middle meningeal artery ; (within this 

 opening there may be a small one for the external superficial 

 petrosal nerve) ; the accessory hiatus, to which a groove conducts, 

 for the small superficial petrosal nerve ; the eminentia arcuata. 



