Which cranial nerves are associated with the middle cranial fossa?

Which cranial nerves are associated with the middle cranial fossa?

• A. CN I-III (1-3)
• B. CN II-VI (2-6)
• C. CN VII-XII (7-12)
• D. CN IV-X (4-10)

Answer: (B)

The middle cranial fossa is defined by openings in the sphenoid bone that nerves use to reach the orbit and face. The optic nerve travels through the optic canal in the sphenoid and enters the orbit. The oculomotor and trochlear nerves reach the orbit via the superior orbital fissure, and so does the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve. The maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve passes through the foramen rotundum, another opening in this fossa. The abducens nerve runs in the cavernous sinus and then enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure. Taken together, these nerves are associated with the middle cranial fossa: cranial nerves II, III, IV, V1, V2, and VI.

The middle cranial fossa is defined by openings in the sphenoid bone that nerves use to reach the orbit and face. The optic nerve travels through the optic canal in the sphenoid and enters the orbit. The oculomotor and trochlear nerves reach the orbit via the superior orbital fissure, and so does the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve. The maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve passes through the foramen rotundum, another opening in this fossa. The abducens nerve runs in the cavernous sinus and then enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure. Taken together, these nerves are associated with the middle cranial fossa: cranial nerves II, III, IV, V1, V2, and VI.