38 HUMAN ANATOMY. 



FORAMINA AT THE BASE OF THE SKULL. 



ANTERIOR FOSSA presents one single foramen and four in 

 pairs : 



Foramen ccecum transmits a small vein to the superior 

 longitudinal sinus; 



Ethmoidal fissure transmits nasal branch of ophthalmic 

 nerve ; 



Olfactory foramina, for filaments of olfactory bulb ; 



Anterior ethmoidal transmit anterior ethmoidal artery and 

 nasal nerve; 



Posterior ethmoidal transmits posterior ethmoidal artery 

 and vein. 



MIDDLE FOSSA presents nine (9) pairs: 



Optic foramen transmits the optic nerve and ophthalmic 

 artery ;. 



Foramen lacerum anterius, or sphenoidal fissure, transmits 

 third, fourth, three branches of the (third) ophthalmic division 

 of the fifth and sixth nerves, orbital branch of the middle 

 meningeal, recurrent branch from the lachrymal artery, fila- 

 ments of the sympathetic and ophthalmic vein; 



Foramen rotundum transmits second division of fifth or 

 superior maxillary; 



Foramen Vesalii transmits a small vein; 

 ' Foramen ovale transmits third division of fifth or inferior 

 maxillary nerve, small petrosal nerve, and small meningeal 

 artery ; 



Foramen spinosum transmits middle or great meningeal 

 artery ; 



Foramen lacerum medium transmits the internal carotid 

 artery, carotid plexus, a branch of ascending pharyngeal artery, 

 and the Vidian or large petrosal nerve; 



Foramen for lesser petrosal nerve, and 



Hiatus Fallopii transmits petrosal branch of middle menin- 

 geal artery and petrosal branch of the Vidian nerve. 



POSTERIOR FOSSA presents six pairs and one single one : 



Meatus auditorius internus transmits auditory artery, facial 

 and auditory nerves; 



Aquceductus vestibuli transmits small artery and vein and 

 lodges a process of dura mater; 



Foramen lacerum posterius, or jugular foramen, transmits 

 inferior petrosal sinus and lateral sinus, forming the internal 

 jugular vein, glosso-pharyngeal, pneumogastric, and spinal ac- 

 cessory nerves, and meningeal branches of ascending pharyngeal 

 and occipital arteries; 



