Skull and Meninges

2.1

Interior View of the Base of the Adult Skull

The anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossae house the anterior frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and cerebellum and brainstem, respectively. The fossae are separated from each other by bony structures and dural membranes. A swelling of the brain or the presence of mass lesions can selectively exert pressure within an individual fossa. The perforated cribriform plate allows the olfactory nerves to penetrate into the olfactory bulb, a site where head trauma can result in the tearing of the penetrating olfactory nerve fibers.

2.2