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Bassett Collection of Stereoscopic Images of Human Anatomy

Floor of cranial cavity

Structures inferior to anterior and middle cranial fossae; orbit and sinuses opened

Image #50-5

KEYWORDS: Bones cartilage joints, Peripheral nervous system, Vasculature.

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Floor of cranial cavity
Structures inferior to anterior and middle cranial fossae; orbit and sinuses opened
Views of the dissection of the contents of the orbit from this approach are found in 54-1 ff.
  1. Frontal sinus
  2. Infundibulum leading into nasofrontal duct
  3. Upper pointer: Frontal nerve Lower pointer: Levator palpebrae superioris
  4. Posterior ethmoidal nerve (usually a branch of the ophthalmic nerve in this case the fibers accompany the trochlear nerve)
  5. Posterior ethmoidal artery in posterior ethmoidal foramen
  6. Lacrimal nerve and superior ophthalmic vein
  7. Periorbita (area of fusion with common annular tendon)
  8. Maxillary nerve (V2)
  9. Trochlear nerve (IV)
  10. Oculomotor nerve (III)
  11. Abducens nerve (VI)
  12. Vidian nerve of pterygoid canal (below floor of sphenoid sinus)
  13. Semilunar ganglion (trigeminal)
  14. Mandibular nerve (V3)
  15. Cavernous nerve plexus
  16. Ethmoidal cell (anterior)
  17. Anterior ethmoidal nerve
  18. Cribriform plate ethmoid bone
  19. Anterior ethmoidal artery (in anterior ethmoidal foramen)
  20. Ethmoidal cell (posterior)
  21. Posterior ethmoidal vein
  22. Upper pointer: Aperture of sphenoid sinus Lower pointer: Sphenoid sinus
  23. Optic nerve (ll)
  24. Internal carotid artery
  25. Upper pointer: Circular sinus Lower pointer: Hypophysis (left half removed)
  26. Sella turcica
  27. Dorsum sellae
  28. Basilar venous plexus