Jugular foramen

Jugular foramen
Base of skull. Inferior surface. (label for jugular foramen is at right, third from the bottom)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	Foramen jugulare
TA	A02.1.00.054
FMA	56432
Anatomical terminology []

The jugular foramen is a large foramen (aperture) in the base of the skull. It is located behind the carotid canal and is formed in front by the petrous portion of the temporal bone, and behind by the occipital bone; it is generally larger on the right than on the left side.

Cranial nerves IX, X, and XI and the internal jugular vein pass through the jugular foramen.

The jugular foramen may be subdivided into three compartments, each with their own contents.

An alternative imaging based subclassification exists, delineated by the jugular spine which is a bony ridge partially separating the jugular foramen into two parts:

Obstruction can result in "Vernet's syndrome".

Jugular foramen

Base of the skull. Upper surface.

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)