Question #638

The jugular foramen is located at the junction of the temporal and occipital bones, inferior to the internal auditory meatus and posterior to the carotid canal.

It contains:

• The inferior petrosal and sigmoid sinuses which form the internal jugular vein
• The spinal accessory nerve
• The vagus nerve and its auricular branch
• The glossopharyngeal nerve and its tympanic branch
• Meningeal branches of the vertebral and ascending pharyngeal arteries

There are a number of different ways of anatomically dividing up the jugular foramen but perhaps the easiest to remember is:

• Anterior compartment – contains the inferior petrosal sinus
• Intermediate compartment – contains the three cranial nerves, glossopharyngeal, vagus and accessory
• Posterior compartment – contains sigmoid sinus becoming the internal jugular vein

A number of different lesions can form at the jugular foramen. Not surprisingly this can result in a range of different symptoms relating to damage to the structures that pass through the foramen.

Any comments or corrections? Please e-mail help@cambridgequestions.co.uk