Posterior cranial fossa

The posterior cranial fossa is the part of the cranial cavity located between the foramen magnum, and tentorium cerebelli. It is formed by the sphenoid bones, temporal bones, and occipital bone. It lodges the cerebellum, and parts of the brainstem.

The posterior cranial fossa is formed by the sphenoid bones, temporal bones, and occipital bone. It is the most inferior of the fossae.^{[citation needed]} It houses the cerebellum, medulla oblongata, and pons.

Anteriorly, the posterior cranial fossa is bounded by the dorsum sellae, posterior aspect of the body of sphenoid bone, and the basilar part of occipital bone/clivus.

Laterally, it is bounded by the petrous parts and mastoid parts of the temporal bones, and the lateral parts of occipital bone.

Posteriorly, it is bounded by the squamous part of occipital bone.

The foramen magnum is a large opening of the floor of the posterior cranial fossa, its most conspicuous feature.

Lies in the anterior wall of the posterior cranial fossa. It transmits the facial (VII) and vestibulocochlear (VIII) cranial nerves into a canal in the petrous temporal bone.

Lies between the inferior edge of the petrous temporal bone and the adjacent occipital bone and transmits the internal jugular vein (actually begins here), the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), vagus nerve (CN X), and accessory nerve (CN XI).