A large opening at the base of the skull through which several cranial nerves and the internal jugular vein exit the cranial cavity.
Structure
The jugular foramen is irregularly shaped and divided into a smaller anterior compartment and a larger posterior compartment. It sits just behind the carotid canal.
Function
Through it pass the glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory nerves, along with the internal jugular vein and the inferior petrosal sinus.
Clinical note
Tumors near the foramen, such as glomus jugulare paragangliomas, can compress these nerves and cause hoarseness, swallowing problems, and shoulder weakness.
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