Cranial fossa

Synonyms
Pronunciation
Carnegie stage
Days
Precursor
Gives rise to
Part of

A cranial fossa is formed by the floor of the cranial cavity.

There are three distinct cranial fossae:

• Anterior cranial fossa (fossa cranii anterior), housing the projecting frontal lobes of the brain
• Middle cranial fossa (fossa cranii media), separated from the posterior fossa by the clivus and the petrous crest
• Posterior cranial fossa (fossa cranii posterior), between the foramen magnum and tentorium cerebelli, containing the brainstem and cerebellum

Additional images

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  Animation.
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  Illustration.
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  Superior view and lateral view.

See also

• Anatomical terms of location#Cranial and caudal
• Fossa (anatomy)