X CLOSE

Contents of left jugular foramen

Superolateral view

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Image #60-7
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Contents of left jugular foramen
Superolateral view
The jugular foramen has been opened by cutting away its lateral wall. The internal jugular vein has been removed and its main tributaries, the sigmoid sinus (23) and the inferior petrosal sinus (12), cut off to expose the glossopharyngeal (13), vagus (24) and accessory (22) nerves which descend through the foramen. The dense fibrous tissue which surrounded these structures has been cleared away. The left cerebellar hemisphere has been partially removed.
1 . Upper pointer: Optic tract Lower pointer: Base of peduncle
2 . Internal carotid artery
3 . Posterior cerebral artery
4 . Clivus
5 . Upper pointer: Pons Lower pointer: Trigeminal nerve (V)
6 . Abducens nerve (VI)
7 . Sphenoid sinus
8 . Internal carotid plexus
9 . Upper pointer: Geniculate ganglion facial nerve (VII) Lower pointer: Vidian nerve (of pterygoid canal)
10 . Deep petrosal nerve
11 . Upper pointer: Cochlea (cut across) Lower pointer: Rectus capitis anterior muscle
12 . Upper pointer: Inferior petrosal sinus Lower pointer: Internal carotid nerve
13 . Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
14 . Superior cervical ganglion
15 . Cerebellum
16 . Superior cerebellar artery
17 . Dentate nucleus
18 . Cerebellar tonsil right
19 . Upper pointer: Brachium of pons (cut across) Lower pointer: Medulla oblongata
20 . Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)
21 . Roots of glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves
22 . Accessory nerve (XI)
23 . Transverse sinus (sigmoid part)
24 . Jugular ganglion of vagus nerve
25 . Medial wall of jugular foramen
26 . Mastoid cells
27 . Right pointer: Auricular branch vagus nerve (note communicating branch from glossopharyngeal nerve) Left pointer: Tympanic nerve
28 . Petrosal ganglion of glossopharyngeal nerve (superior ganglion absent in this specimen)
29 . Nodose ganglion of vagus nerve
30 . Hypoglossal nerve (XII)
31 . Rectus capitis lateralis muscle