Jugular foramen [Practical examination]

Location: 

 It is situated between jugular process of occipital bone and petrous part of temporal bone. 

 Features 

1. The anterior wall is hollowed and forms the jugular fossa. It lodges the superior bulb of internal jugular vein.It presents three canaliculi.

• Mastoid canaliculus transmits auricular branch of vagus nerve
• Cochlear canaliculus transmits aqueduct of cochlea
• Tympanic canaliculus transmits tympanic branch of glossopharyngeal nerve

• Contents: 
•  It is divided into three parts. 
• The contents are Vessels in front a. Inferior petrosal sinus. b. Meningeal artery, branch of ascending pharyngeal artery. 
• Vessels behind a. Internal jugular vein, a direct continuation of sigmoid sinus b. Meningeal artery, branch of occipital artery C. 
• 
  
  
  
  
  
  Three nerves in between a. Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX), b. Vagus nerve (X), and c. Accessory nerve (XI)