- Head and Neck
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- Skull
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- Atlanto-axial joint
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- Joints of foot
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- Talocalcaneonavicular joint
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- Transverse tarsal joint (Chopart's joint)
- Cuneonavicular joint
- Subtalar joint
- Tarsometatarsal joints (Lisfranc's joint)
- Intermetatarsal joints
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- Muscles
- Head muscles
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- Superior rectus
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- Superior oblique
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- Levator palpebrae superioris
- Facial muscles
- Occipitofrontalis
- Occipital belly of occipitofrontalis
- Frontal belly of occipitofrontalis
- Corrugator supercilii
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- Orbicularis oculi
- Orbital part of orbicularis oculi
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- Buccinator
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- Mentalis
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- Risorius
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- Nasalis
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- Procerus
- Depressor septi nasi
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- Dilator naris anterior
- Muscles of mastication
- Temporalis
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- Lateral pterygoid
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- Superficial neck muscles
- Sternocleidomastoid
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- Middle scalene
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- Suprahyoid muscles
- Mylohyoid
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- Anterior belly of digastric
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- Geniohyoid
- Infrahyoid muscles
- Sternohyoid
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- Prevertebral muscles
- Longus capitis
- Longus colli
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- Suboccipital muscles
- Rectus capitis posterior minor
- Rectus capitis posterior major
- Obliquus capitis superior
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- Muscles of upper limb
- Muscles of pectoral girdle
- Pectoralis major
- Muscles of shoulder region
- Deltoid
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- Rotator cuff
- Supraspinatus
- Infraspinatus
- Teres minor
- Subscapularis
- Muscles of upper arm
- Anterior compartment
- Coracobrachialis
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- Posterior compartment
- Triceps brachii
- Anconeus
- Muscles of forearm
- Anterior compartment
- Pronator teres
- Flexor carpi radialis
- Palmaris longus
- Flexor carpi ulnaris
- Flexor digitorum superficialis
- Flexor digitorum profundus
- Flexor pollicis longus
- Pronator quadratus
- Lateral compartment
- Brachioradialis
- Extensor carpi radialis longus
- Extensor carpi radialis brevis
- Posterior compartment
- Extensor digitorum
- Extensor digiti minimi
- Extensor carpi ulnaris
- Abductor pollicis longus
- Extensor pollicis brevis
- Extensor pollicis longus
- Extensor indicis
- Supinator
- Muscles of hand
- Medial group (Muscles of little finger)
- Abductor digiti minimi of hand
- Flexor digiti minimi brevis of hand
- Opponens digiti minimi of hand
- Palmaris brevis
- Middle group of hand muscles
- Lumbricals of hand
- Palmar interossei
- Dorsal interossei of hand
- Lateral group (Muscles of thumb)
- Abductor pollicis brevis
- Flexor pollicis brevis
- Opponens pollicis
- Adductor pollicis
- Thoracic muscles
- Diaphragm
- Muscles of back
- Superficial back muscles
- Trapezius
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- Rhomboid muscles
- Levator scapulae
- Intermediate back muscles
- Serratus posterior superior
- Serratus posterior inferior
- Deep back muscles
- Superficial layer
- Splenius capitis
- Splenius cervicis
- Intermediate layer (Erector Spinae)
- Spinalis
- Longissimus
- Iliocostalis
- Deep layer (Transversospinales)
- Rotatores
- Multifidus
- Semispinalis
- Deepest layer
- Interspinales
- Intertransversarii
- Levatores costarum
- Muscles of lower limb
- Pelvic muscles
- Iliopsoas
- Iliacus
- Psoas major
- Psoas minor
- Gluteus maximus
- Gluteus medius
- Gluteus minimus
- Tensor fasciae latae
- Piriformis
- Obturator internus
- Obturator externus
- Superior gemellus
- Inferior gemellus
- Quadratus femoris
- Muscles of thigh
- Anterior compartment
- Quadriceps femoris
- Rectus femoris
- Vastus medialis
- Vastus intermedius
- Vastus lateralis
- Sartorius
- Medial compartment
- Pectineus
- Adductor brevis
- Adductor longus
- Adductor magnus
- Gracilis
- Posterior compartment
- Semimembranosus
- Semitendinosus
- Biceps femoris
- Muscles of leg
- Anterior compartment
- Tibialis anterior
- Extensor hallucis longus
- Extensor digitorum longus
- Lateral compartment
- Peroneus longus
- Peroneus brevis
- Posterior compartment
- Superficial layer
- Triceps surae
- Gastrocnemius
- Soleus
- Plantaris
- Deep layer
- Popliteus
- Tibialis posterior
- Flexor digitorum longus
- Flexor hallucis longus
- Muscles of foot
- Dorsal muscles of foot
- Extensor digitorum brevis
- Extensor hallucis brevis
- Plantar muscles of foot
- Medial group (Muscles of big toe)
- Abductor hallucis
- Flexor hallucis brevis
- Adductor hallucis
- Middle group of foot muscles
- Flexor digitorum brevis
- Quadratus plantae
- Lumbricals of foot
- Plantar interossei
- Dorsal interossei of foot
- Lateral group (Muscles of little toe)
- Abductor digiti minimi of foot
- Flexor digiti minimi brevis of foot
- Opponens digiti minimi of foot
- Heart
- Blood vessels
- Blood vessels of systemic circulation
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- Posterior intercostal arteries
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- Lumbar arteries
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- Arteries of head and neck
- Brachiocephalic trunk
- Common carotid artery
- External carotid artery
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- Maxillary artery
- Inferior alveolar artery
- Mental artery
- Superior thyroid artery
- Lingual artery
- Facial artery
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- Superior labial artery
- Submental artery
- Angular artery
- Ascending pharyngeal artery
- Occipital artery
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- Internal carotid artery
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- Ophthalmic nerve (CN V1)
- Maxillary nerve (CN V2)
- Mandibular nerve (CN V3)
- Abducens nerve (CN VI)
- Facial nerve (CN VII)
- Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
- Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
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- Accessory nerve (CN XI)
- Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
- Spinal nerves
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- Cervical plexus
- Lesser occipital nerve
- Great auricular nerve
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- Femoral nerve
- Saphenous nerve
- Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
- Genitofemoral nerve
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- Superior gluteal nerve
- Inferior gluteal nerve
- Pudendal nerve
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- Dorsal nerve of penis
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- Inferior rectal nerves
- Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
- Inferior cluneal nerves
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Skull
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Skull
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Middle cranial fossa
The middle cranial fossa (Latin: fossa cranii media) is a region of the internal cranial base between its other two parts - the anterior and posterior cranial fossae. It lies deeper and is wider than the anterior cranial fossa. The middle cranial fossa is created by the sphenoid, temporal and parietal bones.
Borders of middle cranial fossa
These are the structures forming borders of the middle cranial fossa:
- Anteromedially - limbus of the sphenoid bone;
- Anterolaterally - lesser wings and part of the body of the sphenoid;
- Posteromedially - dorsum sellae of the sphenoid;
- Posterolaterally - superior margin of the petrous part of the temporal bone;
- Laterally - squamous parts of the temporal and parietal bones;
- Inferiorly - body and greater wings of the sphenoid, squamous and petrous parts of the temporal bone.
Contents of middle cranial fossa
The middle cranial fossa accommodates the following anatomical structures:
- Pituitary gland
- Temporal lobes of the cerebral hemispheres
Openings of middle cranial fossa
There are many openings in the middle cranial fossa connecting it to other parts of the skull:
- Optic canal
- Superior orbital fissure
- Foramen rotundum
- Foramen ovale
- Foramen spinosum
- Foramen lacerum
- Carotid canal
- Hiatus for lesser petrosal nerve
- Hiatus for greater petrosal nerve
The pair of optic canals connect the middle cranial fossa with the orbits. The optic canal transmits the second cranial nerve - the optic nerve (CN II), and the ophthalmic artery.
The paired superior orbital fissure also connects this fossa with the orbit. This opening transmits four cranial nerves - the oculomotor (CN III), trochlear (CN IV), ophthalmic (CN V1) and abducens (CN VI) nerves, the ophthalmic veins, and sympathetic nerve fibers.
The foramen rotundum is a paired opening serving as a connection between the middle cranial fossa and the pterygopalatine fossa. It transmits the maxillary nerve (CN V2) - the second branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V).
The foramen ovale is another paired opening that connects the middle cranial fossa with the external surface of the cranial base and the infratemporal fossa. It transmits the mandibular nerve (CN V3), the lesser petrosal nerve, the accessory meningeal branch of the maxillary artery, and an emissary vein.
The paired foramen spinosum connects the middle cranial fossa with the infratemporal fossa. It transmits the middle meningeal artery and vein, and the meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3).
The foramen lacerum is a paired opening between the middle cranial fossa and the external cranial base. The foramen lacerum is filled with cartilage after birth and it transmits the artery and nerve of the pterygoid canal.
The carotid canal and the hiatuses for the lesser and greater petrosal nerves all are paired openings in the temporal bone. The carotid canal connects the middle cranial fossa to the external cranial base and carries the internal carotid artery.
The hiatus for the lesser petrosal nerve transmits the named nerve to the tympanic cavity. And the hiatus for the greater petrosal nerve transmits the greater petrosal nerve and the petrosal branch of the middle meningeal artery from the facial canal to the middle cranial fossa.
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