Jugular fossa

Jugular fossa
Base of the skull. Inferior surface. Jugular fossa labeled in purple near center.
View of the inner wall of the tympanum. (Jugular fossa visible at bottom.)
Details
Part of	temporal bone of skull
Identifiers
Latin	fossa jugularis ossis temporalis
TA98	A02.1.06.041
TA2	678
FMA	56429
Anatomical terms of bone [edit on Wikidata]

The jugular fossa is a deep depression in the inferior part of the temporal bone at the base of the skull. It lodges the bulb of the internal jugular vein.

Structure

The jugular fossa is located in the temporal bone, posterior to the carotid canal and the cochlear aqueduct.

In the bony ridge dividing the carotid canal from the jugular fossa is the small inferior tympanic canaliculus for the passage of the tympanic branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve.^[1]

In the lateral part of the jugular fossa is the mastoid canaliculus for the entrance of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve.^[1]

Behind the jugular fossa is a quadrilateral area, the jugular surface, covered with cartilage in the fresh state, and articulating with the jugular process of the occipital bone.^[1]

Variation

The jugular fossa has variable depth and size in different skulls.

Function

The jugular fossa lodges the bulb of the internal jugular vein.^[1]

Clinical significance

Abnormally shaped jugular fossae may cause ear problems.^[2] If it lies close to the cochlea, it may cause tinnitus.^[2] A high jugular fossa may be linked to Ménière's disease.^[2]

Additional images

Left temporal bone. Inferior surface. (Label for jugular fossa at left, sixth from bottom.)
Temporal bone

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text in the public domain from page 144 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
^ ^a ^b ^c Wadin, K.; Thomander, L.; Wilbrand, H. (1986-11-01). "Effects of a High Jugular Fossa and Jugular Bulb Diverticulum on the Inner Ear: A Clinical and Radiologic Investigation". Acta Radiologica. Diagnosis. 27 (6): 629–636. doi:10.1177/028418518602700603. ISSN 0567-8056.

External links

Picture (#32 on third diagram)
"Anatomy diagram: 34257.000-1". Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator. Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22.

Neurocranium of the skull

Occipital

Squamous part	external Inion/External occipital protuberance Occipital bun External occipital crest Nuchal lines Suprainiac fossa planes Occipital Nuchal internal Cruciform eminence Internal occipital protuberance Internal occipital crest Groove for transverse sinus
Lateral parts	Condyle Condyloid fossa Condylar canal Hypoglossal canal jugular Jugular process Jugular tubercle
Basilar part	Pharyngeal tubercle Clivus
Other	Foramen magnum Basion Opisthion

Parietal

Frontal

Squamous part	Frontal suture Frontal eminence external Superciliary arches Glabella foramina Supraorbital foramen Brow ridge Foramen cecum Zygomatic process internal Sagittal sulcus Frontal crest
Orbital part	Ethmoidal notch Fossa for lacrimal gland Trochlear fovea Frontal sinus Frontonasal duct

Temporal

Squamous part	Articular tubercle Suprameatal triangle Mandibular fossa Petrotympanic fissure Zygomatic process
Mastoid part	Mastoid foramen Mastoid process (Mastoid cells) Mastoid notch Occipital groove Sigmoid sulcus Mastoid antrum (Aditus)
Petrous part	Carotid canal Facial canal Hiatus Internal auditory meatus Cochlear aqueduct Stylomastoid foramen fossae Subarcuate fossa Jugular fossa canaliculi Inferior tympanic Mastoid Styloid process Petrosquamous suture (note: ossicles in petrous part, but not part of temporal bone)
Tympanic part	Suprameatal spine

Sphenoid

Surfaces	Superior surface: Sella turcica Dorsum sellae Tuberculum sellae Hypophysial fossa Posterior clinoid processes Ethmoidal spine Chiasmatic groove Middle clinoid process Petrosal process Clivus Lateral surface: Carotid groove Sphenoidal lingula Anterior surface: Sphenoidal sinuses
Great wings	foramina Rotundum Ovale Vesalii Spinosum Spine Infratemporal crest Sulcus of auditory tube
Small wings	Superior orbital fissure Anterior clinoid process Optic canal
Pterygoid processes	fossae Pterygoid Scaphoid pterygoid plates Lateral Medial Pterygoid canal Hamulus
Other	Body Sphenoidal conchae

Ethmoid

Plates	Cribriform plate Crista galli Olfactory foramina Perpendicular plate
Surfaces	Lateral surface Orbital lamina Uncinate process Medial surface Supreme nasal concha Superior nasal concha Superior meatus Middle nasal concha Middle meatus
Labyrinth	Ethmoid sinus ethmoidal foramina Posterior Anterior