The bottom view, demonstrating an external surface of the base of the skull.
Click on image to switch on comments focused on the borders and the bony components that build up the basis cranii. Note that the base of the skull includes some facial skeleton bones, like the maxilla and palatine.
The list of terms:Basis cranii externa – External base of cranium Fossa temporalis – Temporal fossa Fossa infratemporalis – Infratemporal fossa Cavitas nasi – Nasal cavity Arcus alveolaris maxillae – Maxillary alveolar arch Palatum osseum – Bony (hard) palate Choana – Posterior aperture of the nose Processus pterygoideus – Pterygoid process (of the sphenoid bone) Pars petrosa – Petrous part (of temporal bone) Pars tympanica – Tympanic part (of temporal bone) Processus mastoideus – Mastoid process (of temporal bone) Clivus Pars lateralis ossis occipitalis – Lateral part of the occipital bone Squama occipitalis – Squamous part of occipital bone Foramen magnum
Basis cranii externa.
The list of terms:Arcus alveolaris – Alveolar arch Juga alveolaria – Alveolar juga (eminences) Foramen incisivum – Incisive foramen Canalis incisivus – Incisive canal Palatum osseum – Bony (hard) palate Processus palatinus maxillae – Palatine process of maxilla Lamina horizontalis ossis palatini – Horizontal plate of palatine bone Sutura palatina mediana – Median palatine suture Sutura palatina transversa – Transversal palatine suture Canalis palatinus major – Greater palatine canal Canalis palatinus minor – Lesser palatine canal Processus pyramidalis ossis palatini – Pyramidal process of palatine bone Cavitas nasi – Nasal cavity Choana – Posterior aperture of the nose Processus pterygoideus – Pterygoid process Lamina lateralis processus pterygoidei – Lateral plate of the pterygoid process Lamina medialis processus pterygoidei – Medial plate of the pterygoid process Fossa pterygoidea – Pterygoid fossa Vomer Foramen ovale Foramen spinosum Tuberculum pharyngeum – Pharyngeal tubercle Foramen lacerum Tuberculum articulare – Articular tubercle Fossa mandibularis – Mandibular fossa Fissura petrotympanica – Petrotympanic (glasserian) fissure Canalis caroticus – Carotid canal Fossula petrosa – Petrosal fossula Canaliculus tympanicus – Tympanic canaliculus Foramen jugulare – Jugular foramen Fossa jugularis – Jugular fossa Foramen stylomastoideum – Stylomastoid foramen Canalis n. facialis – Canal for the facial nerve Processus styloideus – Styloid process Processus mastoideus – Mastoid process Incisura mastoidea – Mastoid notch Sulcus a. occipitalis – Groove for occipital artery Protuberantia occipitalis externa – External occipital protuberance Linea nuchalis superior – Superior nuchal line Linea nuchalis inferior – Inferior nuchal line Crista occipitalis externa – External occipital crest Foramen magnum
That illustration shows canals of the base of the skull, which usually is more challenging to localize. To find canalis musculotubarius and canalis pterygoideus it is recommended to first localize the scaphoid fossa on the pterygoid process's medial plate. After escaping from the canalis musculotubarius, the cartilage of the pharyngotympanic tube attaches to the fossa scaphoidea. Follow fossa in the direction toward temporal bone, and you will find the entrance to the musculotubal canal.
Canalis pterygoideus also opens into the basis cranii externa. However, this opening settles deep in the foramen lacerum, at the base of the fossa scaphoidea mentioned above.
The list of terms:Fossa scaphoidea – Scaphoid fossa Canalis musculotubarius – Musculotubal canal Canalis pterygoideus – Pterygoid canal Canalis condylaris – Condylar canal Canalis hypoglossalis – Hypoglossal canals
First published: Jan/2020
Last update: 14/Nov/2020