Fossa cranii media
The fossa cranii media (lat., Middle cranial fossa) is a section of the cranial cavity that houses the central part of the brain , the temporal lobe of the cerebrum and part of the brain stem . It lies between the anterior ( Fossa cranii anterior ) and the posterior fossa ( Fossa cranii posterior ) and is determined by the large and small wing of the sphenoid bone ( Ala major and Ala minor of the Os sphenoidale ).
The back (dorsal) delimitation of the fossa cranii media forms the rock part ( pars petrosa ) of the temporal bone ( os temporale ).
The floor of the middle cranial fossa consists of the large wing of the sphenoid bone and the pars squamosa ( pars squamosa ) of the temporal bone. Here is the so-called Turkish saddle ( Sella turcica ), which divides the middle cranial fossa in two halves. In its center there is a pit for the pituitary gland , the hypophysial fossa . At the rear, the Turkish saddle ends in the saddle back ( dorsum sellae ).
The middle cranial fossa contains parts of the fibrous cartilaginous chondrocranium , which close the foramen lacerum ('torn hole').
Skull penetrations
| Entry point | content |
|---|---|
| Optic Canal |
Optic nerve |
| Superior orbital fissure |
Oculomotor nerve Trochlear |
| Foramen rotundum |
Maxillary nerve |
| Foramen oval |
Mandibular nerve Arteria meningea accessoryoria |
| Foramen spinosum |
Meningeal artery media Vena meningea media |
| Foramen lacerum |
Petrosal major nerve |