SCALP

Extent: Anterior – superciliary arches (eyebrow)

Lateral – superior temporal line

Posterior – superior nuchal line

Layers:

1. Skin: Has numerous sebaceous glands – sebaceous cysts might form

2. Connective Tissue : (superficial fascia) – divided into pockets containing lobules of fat by
fibrous septa.

Adhered to the walls of BVs -> May lead to profuse bleeding

Also has nerves and BVs

3.Aponeurosis: (Galea Aponeurotica) of occipitofrontalis muscle

Transverse cuts lead to gaping wounds

1,2 and 3 are firmly adherent and are together known as Scalp Proper

4.Loose Areolar Tissue: Traversed by emissary veins connecting veins in the 2nd layer of scalp to the
intracranial dural venous sinuses.

5.Pericranium : Periosteum of skull

Nerve supply:

Sensory : Supratrochlear – derived from 1st branch of trigeminal nerve ( V1)

Supraorbital – V1 In front of the ear

Zygomaticotemporal – V2

Auriculotemporal – V3

Greater auricular – Ventral Ramus(VR) of C2,C3

Lesser occipital –VR of C2 Behind the ear

Greater occipital – DR of C2

Third occipital – DR of C3

Motor: Temporal branch of Facial Nerve – supplies frontalis muscle

Posterior auricular branch of Facial Nerve – occipito part

Arterial supply: Supratrochlear ICA goes to the carotid canal through the cavernous sinus to

Supraorbital give rise to ophthalmic artery which then divides

Superficial temporal

Post auricular Branches of ECA

Occipital
ANTERIOR CRANIAL FOSSA:

BORDERS:

 Anteriorly and laterally it is bounded by the inner surface of the frontal bone.
 Posteriorly and medially it is bounded by the limbus of the sphenoid bone. The limbus is a
bony ridge that forms the anterior border of the prechiasmatic sulcus (a groove running
between the right and left optic canals).
 Posteriorly and laterally it is bounded by the lesser wings of the sphenoid bone (these are
two triangular projections of bone that arise from the central sphenoid body).
 The floor consists of the frontal bone, ethmoid bone and the anterior aspects of the body
and lesser wings of the sphenoid bone

CONTENTS:

The frontal bone is marked in the midline by a body ridge, known as the frontal crest. It projects
upwards, and acts as a site of attachment for the falx cerebri (a sheet of dura mater that divides the
two cerebral hemispheres).

Foramen Cecum : between frontal crest and crista galli.

In the midline of the ethmoid bone, the crista galli is situated. This is an upwards projection of bone,
which acts as another point of attachment for the falx cerebri.On either side of the crista galli is
the cribriform plate.

The anterior aspect of the sphenoid bone lies within the anterior cranial fossa. From the central
body, the lesser wings arise. The rounded ends of the lesser wings are known as the anterior clinoid
processes. They serve as a place of attachment for the tentorium cerebelli (a sheet of dura mater
that divides the cerebrum from the cerebellum). The lesser wings of the sphenoid bone also
separate the anterior and middle cranial fossae.

FORAMEN:

The cribriform plate is a sheet of bone seen either side of the crista galli which contains numerous
small foramina – these transmit olfactory nerve fibres (CN I) into the nasal cavity. It also contains
two larger foramen:

Anterior ethmoidal foramen – transmits the anterior ethmoidal artery, nerve and vein.

Posterior ethmoidal foramen – transmits the posterior ethmoidal artery, nerve and vein.

CLINICAL CORRELATION:

Fracture of cribriform plate leading to anosmia and CSF rhinorrhoea.

MIDDLE CRANIAL FOSSA:

 Anteriorly and laterally it is bounded by the lesser wings of the sphenoid bone. These are
two triangular projections of bone that arise from the central sphenoid body.
 Anteriorly and medially it is bounded by the limbus of the sphenoid bone. The limbus is a
bony ridge that forms the anterior border of the chiasmatic sulcus (a groove running
between the right and left optic canals).
  Posteriorly and laterally it is bounded by the superior border of the petrous part of
the temporal bone.
 Posteriorly and medially it is bounded by the dorsum sellae of the sphenoid bone. This is
a large superior projection of bone that arises from the sphenoidal body.
 The floor is formed by the body and greater wing of the sphenoid, and the squamous and
petrous parts of the temporal bone.

Sella Tursica

CONTENTS:

The central part of the middle cranial fossa is formed by the body of the sphenoid bone. It contains
the sella turcica (latin for Turkish saddle), which is a saddle-shaped bony prominence (see Fig 1.2). It
acts to hold and support the pituitary gland, and consists of three parts:

The tuberculum sellae (horn of the saddle) is a vertical elevation of bone. It forms the anterior wall
of the sella turcica, and the posterior aspect of the chiasmatic sulcus (a groove running between the
right and left optic canals). The lateral ends of tuberculum sellae bear the middle clinoid processes.

The hypophysial fossa or pituitary fossa (seat of the saddle) sits in the middle of the sella turcica. It
is a depression in the body of the sphenoid, which holds the pituitary gland.

The dorsum sellae (back of the saddle) forms the posterior wall of the sella turcica. It is a large
square of bone, pointing upwards and forwards. It separates the middle cranial fossa from the
posterior cranial fossa. The lateral ends of the dorsum sellae bear the posterior clinoid processes.

The anterior and the posterior clinoid processes serve as attachment points for the tentorium
cerebelli, a membranous sheet that divides the brain.

The depressed lateral parts of the middle cranial fossa are formed by the greater wings of the
sphenoid bone, and the squamous and petrous parts of the temporal bones. They support the
temporal lobes of the brain.

FORAMEN:

The optic canals are situated anteriorly in the middle cranial fossa. They transmit the optic
nerves (CN II) and ophthalmic arteries into the orbital cavities. The optic canals are connected by
the chiasmatic sulcus, a depressed groove running transversely between the two.
Immediately lateral to the central part of the middle cranial fossa in the greater wing of sphenoid
bone are are four foramina:

The superior orbital fissure opens anteriorly into the orbit. It transmits the oculomotor nerve (CN
III), trochlear nerve (CN IV), ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V1), abducens nerve (CN
VI), opthalmic veins and sympathetic fibres.

The superior orbital fissure is divided into three parts by the common tendinous ring of Zimm.

The foramen rotundum opens into the pterygopalatine fossa and transmits the maxillary branch of
the trigeminal nerve (CN V2).

The foramen ovale opens into the infratemporal fossa, transmitting the mandibular branch of
the trigeminal nerve (CN V3) and accessory meningeal artery.

The foramen spinosum also opens into the infratemporal fossa. It transmits the middle meningeal
artery, middle meningeal vein and a meningeal branch of CN V3

Foramina of the Temporal Bone

The temporal bone is marked by three major foramina:

Hiatus of the greater petrosal nerve – transmits the greater petrosal nerve (a branch of the facial
nerve), and the petrosal branch of the middle meningeal artery.

Hiatus of the lesser petrosal nerve – transmits the lesser petrosal nerve (a branch of
the glossopharyngeal nerve).

Carotid canal – located posteriorly and medially to the foramen ovale. This is traversed by the
internal carotid artery, which ascends into the cranium to supply the brain with blood. The deep
petrosal nerve also passes through this canal.

At the junction of the sphenoid, temporal and occipital bones is the foramen lacerum. In life, this
foramen is filled with cartilage, which is pierced only by small blood vessels.
POSTERIOR CRANIAL FOSSA:

BORDERS:

 Anteriorly and medially it is bounded by the dorsum sellae of the sphenoid bone. This is
a large superior projection of bone that arises from the body of the sphenoid.
 Anteriorly and laterally it is bounded by the superior border of the petrous part of
the temporal bone.
 Posteriorly it is bounded by the internal surface of the squamous part of the occipital bone.
 The floor consists of the mastoid part of the temporal bone and the squamous, condylar and
basilar parts of the occipital bone.

The posterior cranial fossa houses the brainstem and cerebellum.

FORAMINA:

Temporal Bone

The internal acoustic meatus is an oval opening in the posterior aspect of the petrous part of the
temporal bone. It transmits the facial nerve (CN VII), vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII) and
labyrinthine artery.

Occipital Bone

A large opening, the foramen magnum, lies centrally in the floor of the posterior cranial fossa. It is
the largest foramen in the skull. It transmits the medulla of the brain, meninges, vertebral
arteries, spinal accessory nerve (ascending), dural veins and anterior and posterior spinal arteries.
Anteriorly an incline, known as the clivus, connects the foramen magnum with the dorsum sellae.

The jugular foramina are situated either side of the foramen magnum. Each transmits
the glossopharyngeal nerve, vagus nerve, spinal accessory nerve (descending), internal jugular vein,
inferior petrosal sinus, sigmoid sinus and meningeal branches of the ascending pharyngeal and
occipital arteries.

Immediately superior to the anterolateral margin of the foramen magnum is the hypoglossal canal.
It transmits the hypoglossal nerve through the occipital bone.

Posterolaterally to the foramen magnum lies the cerebellar fossae. These are bilateral depressions
that house the cerebellum. They are divided medially by a ridge of bone, the internal occipital crest.