Jugular foramen
| Jugular foramen | |
|---|---|
skeletal system | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | foramen jugulare |
| MeSH | D000080869 |
| TA98 | A02.1.00.054 |
| TA2 | 458 |
| FMA | 56432 |
| Anatomical terminology] | |
A jugular foramen is one of the two (left and right) large
base of the skull, located behind the carotid canal. It is formed by the temporal bone and the occipital bone. It allows many structures to pass, including the inferior petrosal sinus, three cranial nerves, the sigmoid sinus
, and meningeal arteries.
Structure
The jugular foramen is formed in front by the
occipital bone.[1]
It is generally slightly larger on the right side than on the left side.
Contents
The jugular foramen may be subdivided into three compartments, each with their own contents.
- The anterior compartment transmits the inferior petrosal sinus.
- The intermediate compartment transmits the vagus nerve,[1] and the accessory nerve.
- The posterior compartment transmits the sigmoid sinus (becoming the internal jugular vein),[1] and some meningeal branches from the occipital artery and ascending pharyngeal artery.
An alternative imaging based subclassification exists, delineated by the jugular spine which is a bony ridge partially separating the jugular foramen into two parts:
- The smaller, anteromedial, "pars nervosa" compartment contains CN IX), and receives the venous return from inferior petrosal sinus.
- The larger, posterolateral, "pars vascularis" compartment contains CN X involved in the Arnold's reflex, where external auditory meatus stimulation causes cough), jugular bulb, and posterior meningeal branch of ascending pharyngeal artery.
Clinical significance
Obstruction of the jugular foramen can result in jugular foramen syndrome.[2][3]
Additional images
-
Jugular foramen -
Base of the skull. Upper surface. -
See also
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 181 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ ISBN 978-0-12-410390-0.
- ^ "Parapharyngeal Masses: Their Diagnosis and Management". Archived from the original on 2008-09-07.
- S2CID 25145438.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jugular foramen.
- Anatomy figure: 22:5b-12 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Anatomy figure: 22:4a-08 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- cranialnerves at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (IX, XI)
- "Anatomy diagram: 34257.000-1". Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator. Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22.
- UCSD
