

## Sphenoid
<ul>
  <li>A complex bone comprising part of the skull base:</li>
  <ul>
    <li>
      Embryologically: the skull base begins as cartilaginous precursors which then ossify,
      including the sphenoid
    </li>
    <li>
      Note: the other bones of the orbit form by membranous ossification (no cartilaginous
      precursor)
    </li>
  </ul>
</ul>
<p>Components&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
  <li>Body: containing the deep depression of the sella turcica</li>
  <li>Lesser wing</li>
  <li>Greater wing</li>
  <li>Pterygoid processes with pterygoid hamulus on the ends</li>
  <li>Foramen ovale which transmits numerous structures (see later)</li>
  <li>The optic canal passes through the lesser wing</li>
  <li>The superior orbital fissure is formed between the lesser and greater wings</li>
  <li>The foramen rotundum passes through the pterygoid process</li>
  <li>Foramen spinosum transmits the middle meningeal artery</li>
  <li>The small pterygoid canal lies medially</li>
</ul>

## Temporal
<ul>
  <li>Squamous part connects with the greater wing of the sphenoid and parietal bones</li>
  <li>Zygomatic process forms part of the zygomatic arch</li>
  <li>Petrous part contains the middle ear, labyrinth and the carotid canal</li>
  <li>Mastoid part connects with the parietal and occipital bones and contains air cells.</li>
  <ul>
    <li>This contains the stylomastoid foramen, which transmits the facial nerve</li>
  </ul>
  <li>Tympanic part forms the wall of the external auditory meatus</li>
</ul>

## Maxilla
<ul>
  <li>So-called membranous bone (compare with sphenoid above)</li>
  <li>Forms part of the orbital floor, lateral wall of the nose and hard palate</li>
  <li>Contains the pyramidal maxillary sinus</li>
  <li>The roof of the sinus is indented by the infraorbital canal</li>
  <li>The sinus drains the middle meatus of the nasal cavity</li>
</ul>
<HotTopic>
<div>
    <p>The walls of the nasolacrimal duct are formed by:</p>
    <ul>
      <li>Maxilla</li>
      <li>Lacrimal bone&nbsp;</li>
      <li>Inferior nasal concha.</li>
    </ul>
</div>

</HotTopic>

## Connections from cranial fossa (and contents)

### Middle cranial fossa
<ul>
  <li>Foramen ovale to the infratemporal fossa</li>
  <ul>
    <li>OVALE</li>
    <li>V3: mandibular division of trigeminal</li>
    <li>Accessory meningeal artery</li>
    <li>Lesser petrosal nerve</li>
    <li>Emissary vein</li>
  </ul>
  <li>Foramen spinosum connects to infratemporal fossa</li>
  <ul>
    <li>Middle meningeal artery and vein</li>
    <li>Meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve</li>
  </ul>
  <li>Foramen lacerum</li>
  <ul>
    <li>
      Parasympathetic fibres via the greater petrosal nerve travelling to the pterygopalatine
      ganglion
    </li>
    <li>The ICA passes over the surface</li>
  </ul>
  <li>Foraman rotundum</li>
  <ul>
    <li>Maxillary nerve&nbsp;</li>
    <li>Small veins of the cavernous sinus</li>
  </ul>
  <li>Pterygoid canal</li>
  <ul>
    <li>Deep petrosal nerve</li>
    <li>Greater petrosal nerve</li>
  </ul>
  <li>Stylomastoid foramen (part of the temporal bone)</li>
  <ul>
    <li>Facial nerve (excluding chorda tympani)</li>
  </ul>
  <li>Pterygotympanic fissure</li>
  <ul>
    <li>Transmits the chorda tympani to the infratemporal fossa</li>
  </ul>
</ul>

### Posterior cranial fossa
<ul>
  <li>Jugular foramen (formed by petrous temporal and occipital bones)</li>
  <ul>
    <li>Glossopharyngeal</li>
    <li>Vagus</li>
    <li>Accessory (cranial part)</li>
    <li>Internal jugular vein</li>
  </ul>
  <li>Foramen magnum</li>
  <ul>
    <li>Accessory (spinal part)</li>
  </ul>
  <li>Hypoglossal canal</li>
  <ul>
    <li>Hypoglossal nerve</li>
  </ul>
</ul>

## Cervical vertebrae
<ul>
  <li>Seven in total</li>
  <li>Atlas and axis (C1 and C2) are unique</li>
  <li>C7 is unique</li>
  <ul>
    <li>Transverse process occasionally enlarged to form a so-called &lsquo;cervical rib&rsquo;</li>
  </ul>
  <li>C3-C6 are &lsquo;typical&rsquo;</li>
  <ul>
    <li>Triangular shaped canal</li>
    <li>Bifid spinal processes</li>
    <li>Kidney shaped body</li>
    <li>Small transverse processes</li>
  </ul>
  <li>Foramen transversarium is within the transverse processes of all vertebrae</li>
</ul>

## Infratemporal fossa
<ul>
  <li>Found behind the maxilla and the zygomatic arch</li>
  <li>Roof: greater wing of sphenoid and squamous part of the temporal bone</li>
  <li>Medial wall: lateral pterygoid plate</li>
  <li>Anterior wall: maxilla</li>
  <li>Posterior wall: styloid apparatus</li>
  <li>Lateral wall: mandibular ramus</li>
  <li>Middle meningeal artery exits the fossa through the foramen spinosum</li>
  <li>
    Maxillary artery leaves via the pterygomaxillary fissure and enters the pterygopalatine fossa
  </li>
  <li>Mandibular division of the trigeminal enters through the foramen ovale</li>
  <li>
    Otic ganglion lies in the fossa and immediately below the foramen ovale: receives preganglionic
    parasympathetic supply from the lesser petrosal nerve (component of the glossopharyngeal bound
    for the parotid gland) and communicates with the facial nerve
  </li>
</ul>
<p>
  <strong>Trivia</strong>: the vomer (which forms the nasal septum) and the mandible are the only
  unpaired facial bones.
</p>


Neuroanatomy

Osteology

Intro

FRCOphth Part 1 Study Notes

Orbit and ocular adnexae

Orbit

Extraocular Muscles

Orbital Blood Vessels

Paranasal Sinuses

Lacrimal Glands

Tear Film

Eyelids

Blinking

Anterior segment - ocular surface

Conjunctiva

Conjunctivitis

Sclera

Cornea

Corneal Structure And Development

Corneal Physiology

AC to Lens

Angle

Ciliary Body

Aqueous Humour Dynamics

Iris

Pupil

Lens

Posterior segment

Choroid

Vitreous

Retinal Macrostructure

Neurosensory Retina

Retinal Pigment Epithelium

Venous Sinuses

Cerebral Ventricles

Cerebral Blood Supply

Supranuclear Gaze Pathways

Head And Neck Autonomic Nervous Supply

Head And Neck Glands

Nerves

Muscles And Pharyngeal Arches

Extraocular Nerves

Sensory Nerves

Physiology

Physics Of Blood Flow

Neuronal Control Of Blood Vessels

Oxygen-Haemoglobin Dissociation Curve

Cytochrome p450

Pituitary Gland

Thyroid Hormone Production

Insulin

Glucagon

Parathyroid Hormone

Corticosteroids

Catecholamines

Cardiac Cycle

Renal Physiology

Fluid Balance

Acid-Base Balance

Muscle Physiology

Sensory Fibres

Cutaneous Receptors

Endocytosis

Glycosaminoglycans

Condensed Ocular Biochemistry

Eye Movements

Accomodation

Vision

Visual Cycle And Phototransuction

Visual Pathway

Visual Acuity

Colour Vision

Binocular Vision

Pathology

Collagen

Tissue Damage

Inflammation

Disease Entities

Wound Healing

Thrombosis / Atherosclerosis

Cell Growth

Neoplasia

Histopathology

Nystagmus

Free Radicals And Antioxidants

Immunology

Ocular Immunology

Microbiology

Viral Infections

Bacterial Infections

Fungal Infections

Protozoa

Nematodes

Antimicrobials

Genetics

Chromosomes

Mitosis

Meiosis

Genes

Polypeptide Synthesis

Histones

MicroRNA

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

Mutations

Chromosome Defects

Autosomal Inheritance

X-Linked Inheritance

Mitochondrial Inheritance

Multifactorial Inheritance