base of skull
{{short description|Inferior area of the skull, composed of the endocranium and lower parts of the skull roof}}
{{Infobox bone
| Name = Skull base
| Latin = basis cranii
externa et. interna
| Image = Skull_interior_anatomy.svg
| Caption = Base of the skull, inferior or inner surface
| Image2 = Skull base anatomy.jpg
| Caption2 = Base of the skull, exterior or outer surface. Showing various muscle attachments.
}}
The base of skull, also known as the cranial base or the cranial floor, is the most inferior area of the skull. It is composed of the endocranium and the lower parts of the calvaria.
Structure
File:Gray187.png marked in red.]]
Structures found at the base of the skull are for example:
=Bones=
There are five bones that make up the base of the skull:
=Sinuses=
=Foramina of the skull=
=Sutures=
=Other=
File:Skull brain human normal.svgs.]]
File:Skull and brainstem inner ear.svg
- Sphenoidal lingula
- Subarcuate fossa
- Dorsum sellae
- Jugular process
- Petro-occipital fissure
- Condylar canal
- Jugular tubercle
- Tuberculum sellae
- Carotid groove
- Fossa hypophyseos
- Posterior clinoid processes
- Sigmoid sulcus
- Internal occipital protuberance
- Internal occipital crest
- Ethmoidal spine
- Vestibular aqueduct
- Chiasmatic groove
- Middle clinoid process
- Groove for sigmoid sinus
- Trigeminal ganglion
- Middle cranial fossa
- Anterior cranial fossa
- Middle meningeal artery
- Cribriform plate
- Posterior cranial fossa
- Nasociliary nerve
- Hypoglossal canal
Additional images
File:Gray193.png |Base of the skull. Upper surface
File:Schädelbasis1.jpg|Base of skull
File:Base of skull 3.jpg|Base of skull - crista galli, cribriform plate and foramen cecum
File:Base of skull 11.jpg|Base of skull - sella turcica
File:Base of skull 24.jpg|The anterior, middle and posterior cranial fossa in different colors
{{Commons category|Cranial base}}
{{Compound structures of skull}}
{{Authority control}}