Question #393

The intracranial route of the internal carotid artery involves six separate turns. After entering the petrous part of the temporal bone through the carotid canal:

1. Turns anteromedially to emerge above the foramen lacerum.
2. Turns superiorly to enter the cavernous sinus.
3. Turns anterior while in the cavernous sinus.
4. Turns superiorly on exiting the cavernous sinus (runs on the undersurface of the optic nerve).
5. Turns posteriorly on reaching the anterior clinoid process (lies lateral to the optic chiasma).
6. Turns superiorly on reaching the posterior clinoid process.

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