Foramen Ovale (skull) - Contents

Contents

Several nerves, arteries and veins pass through the foramen ovale. They are as follows:

  • Mandibular nerve (the third branch (V3) of the trigeminal nerve)
  • Accessory meningeal artery (small meningeal or parvidural branch, sometimes derived from the middle meningeal artery)
  • Lesser petrosal nerve of (CN IX) (note: the lesser superficial petrosal nerve sometimes passes through a special canal (canaliculus innominatus of Arnold), situated medial to the foramen spinosum)
  • Emissary veins (from the cavernous sinus to the pterygoid plexus)
  • The otic ganglion is situated directly under the foramen, but is also transmitted through the foramen ovale.

The contents of this foramen neatly form the mnemonic 'OVALE' (otic ganglion, V3, accessory meningeal artery, lesser petrosal nerve, emissary veins)

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