Cranial nerves and related skull base foramina

When fractures involve some specific anatomical regions the involvement of nerves passing through
a foramen in the respective region should be always considered.

I Olfactory nerve: formed by many sensory nerve fibers that extend from the olfactory epithelium to
the olfactory bulbs passing through the openings of the cribriform plates of the ethmoid bone (in the
anterior central skull base).

II Optic nerve: passes from the retina to the brain in the optic canal in close relationship with the
anterior clinoid process (middle central skull base).

III Oculomotor nerve: enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure between the middle and
anterior fossae.

IV Trochlear nerve: enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure between the middle and
anterior fossae.

V Trigeminal nerve: is made up of three divisions:
Ophthalmic branch which passes through the superior orbital fissure
Maxillary branch which passes through the foramen rotundum
Mandibular branch which passes through the foramen ovale
VI Abducens nerve: enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure between the middle and
anterior fossae.

VII Facial nerve: enters the petrous temporal bone via the internal auditory meatus and emerges
from the external surface of the skull base through the stylomastoid foramen (lateral posterior skull
base)

VIII Vestibulocochlear nerve: enters the internal acoustic meatus.

IX Glossopharyngeal nerve: passes the through the jugular foramen.

X Vagus nerve: passes the through the jugular foramen.

XI Accessory nerve: starts outside the skull, enters the skull through the foramen magnum and exits
again with the IX and X nerve through the jugular foramen.

XII Hypoglossal nerve: passes through the hypoglossal canal in the occipital bone.