Posterior cranial fossa

The posterior cranial fossa is part of the cranial cavity, located between the foramen magnum and tentorium cerebelli. It contains the brainstem and cerebellum.

Posterior cranial fossa
Superior view of the skull base. posterior cranial fossa shown in green.

1: Dorsum sellae of the sphenoid bone
2: Superior borders of the petrous part of the temporal bone

3: Groove for transverse sinus of the occipital bone
Base of the skull. Upper surface. The Posterior cranial fossa is colored in blue, yellow, and red.
Details
Identifiers
Latinfossa cranii posterior
MeSHD003388
TAA02.1.00.050
FMA54368
Anatomical terminology

This is the most inferior of the fossae. It houses the cerebellum, medulla and pons. Anteriorly it extends to the apex of the petrous temporal. Posteriorly it is enclosed by the occipital bone. Laterally portions of the squamous temporal and mastoid part of the temporal bone form its walls.

Features

Foramen magnum
Main article: Foramen magnum

The most conspicuous, large opening in the floor of the fossa. It transmits the medulla, the ascending portions of the spinal accessory nerve (XI), and the vertebral arteries.

Internal acoustic meatus

Lies in the anterior wall of the posterior cranial fossa. It transmits the facial (VII) and vestibulocochlear (VIII) cranial nerves into a canal in the petrous temporal bone.

Jugular foramen

Lies between the inferior edge of the petrous temporal bone and the adjacent occipital bone and transmits the internal jugular vein (actually begins here), the glossopharyngeal (IX), the vagus (X) and the accessory (XI) nerves.

Anterior condylar (hypoglossal) canal

Lies at the anterolateral margins of the f. magnum and transmits the hypoglossal (XII) nerve.

Other

Also visible in the posterior cranial fossa are depressions caused by the venous sinuses returning blood from the brain to the venous circulation: Right and left transverse sinuses which meet at the confluence of sinuses (marked by the internal occipital protuberance).

The transverse sinuses pass horizontally from the most posterior point of the occiput.

Where the apex of the petrous temporal meets the squamous temporal, the transverse sinuses lead into sigmoid (S-shaped) sinuses (one on each side).

These pass along the articulation between the posterior edge of the petrous temporal bone and the anterior edge of the occipital bones to the jugular foramen, where the sigmoid sinus becomes the internal jugular vein.

Note that a superior petrosal sinus enters the junction of the transverse and sigmoid sinuses. Also an inferior petrosal sinus enters the sigmoid sinus near the jugular foramen.

The posterior cranial fossa is formed in the endocranium, and holds the most basal parts of the brain.

An underdeveloped posterior cranial fossa can cause Arnold-Chiari Malformation. These can be either acquired or congenital disorders.

Additional images
  • Animation
  • Posterior cranial fossa at human fetus
  • Base of skull
  • Posterior cranial fossa
  • Posterior cranial fossa
  • A tumor of the posterior fossa leading to mass effect and shift of the fourth ventricle
  • Video (44 sec). Demonstrationg how cerebellum sits in the posterior cranial fossa.

See also
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