A list of the holes (foramen) in the base of the skull and what goes through each of them.

Without further ado, arranged from anterior to posterior:

• Foramen caecum - emissary vein to superior sagittal sinus
• Foramina of cribriform plate - olfactory nerve bundles
• Posterior ethmoidal foramen - posterior ethmoidal artery, vein and nerve
• Optic canal - optic nerve (II), ophthalmic artery]
• Superior orbital fissure
  • Oculomotor nerve (III)
  • Trochlear nerve (IV)
  • Lacrimal, frontal and nasociliary branches of opthalmic nerve (V₁)
  • Abducens nerve (VI)
  • Superior opthalmic vein
• Foramen rotundum - maxillary nerve (V₂)
• Foramen ovale
  • Mandibular nerve (V₃)
  • Accessory meningeal artery
  • Lesser petrosal nerve (occasionally)
• Foramen spinosum
  • Middle meningeal artery and vein
  • Meningeal branch of mandibular nerve
• Formamen lacerum
  • Internal carotid artery
  • Internal carotid nerve plexus
• Hiatus of canal of lesser petrosal nerve
• Hiatus of canal of greater petrosal nerve
• Internal acoustic meatus
  • Facial nerve (VII)
  • Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)
  • Labyrinthine artery
• Jugular foramen
  • Inferior petrosal sinus
  • Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
  • Vagus nerve (X)
  • Accessory nerve (XI)
  • Sigmoid sinus
  • Posterior meningeal artery
  • Internal jugular vein
• Hypoglossal canal - hypoglossal nerve (XII)
• Foramen magnum
  • Medulla oblongata
  • Meninges
  • Vertebral arteries
  • Meningeal branches of vertebral arteries
  • Spinal roots of accessory nerves

see also: Cranium, Bones of the skull

Part of the ongoing Human Anatomy project (tm).

/msg me for errors/additions/omissions.