Question #643
Which of the following statements is correct?
The incisive foramen is located on the inferior surface of the maxilla and allows passage of the sphenopalatine artery and nasopalatine branches of V2 to the under surface of the palate.
The hypoglossal canal is located just superior to the occipital condyles of the occipital bone and as its name suggests allows passage of the hypoglossal nerve from the posterior cranial fossa to the oral cavity.
The foramen caecum is located at the junction between the frontal bone and ethmoid bone just anterior to the crista galli. It contains an emissary vein which drains into the superior sagittal sinus and is a potential site for spread of infection from the face.
The mandibular foramen is located on the medial surface of the ramus of the mandible and allows entry of the inferior alveolar nerve and vessels into the mandibular canal. The mental nerve is a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve that exits the mandibular canal at the mental foramen located on the anterior surface of the mandible.
The pterygoid (or vidian) canal is located in the sphenoid bone. Its enterance lies on the anterior surface of the foramen lacerum and passes into the pterygopalatine canal. It contains parasympathetic fibres from the greater superficial petrosal nerve and sympathetic fibres from the deep petrosal nerve which combine together to form the vidian nerve (or nerve of the pterygoid canal). In addition, there is often an artery and vein of the pterygoid canal.