Contents
The jugular foramen may be subdivided into three compartments, each with their own contents.
- The anterior compartment transmits the inferior petrosal sinus.
- The intermediate transmits the glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory nerves (aka cranial nerves number IX, X, and XI respectively).
- The posterior transmits the sigmoid sinus (becoming the internal jugular vein) and some meningeal branches from the occipital and ascending pharyngeal arteries.
An alternative imaging based subclassification exists, delineated by the jugular spine which is a bony ridge partially separating the jugular foramen into two parts:
- The smaller, anteromedial, "pars nervosa" compartment contains CN IX, Jacobson nerve (or the tympanic nerve, a branch of CN IX), and receives the venous return from inferior petrosal sinus.
- The larger, posterolateral, "pars vascularis" compartment contains CN X, CN XI, Arnold's nerve (or the auricular branch of CN X involved in the Arnold's reflex, where external auditory meatus stimulation causes cough), jugular bulb, and posterior meningeal branch of ascending pharyngeal artery.
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