The jugular foramen is an irregular opening at the posterior lateral skull base between the petrous part of the temporal bone and the occipital bone. It is divided into anteriomedial and posterolateral compartments: the pars nervosa anteriorly transmits the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), the tympanic branch of CN IX, and the inferior petrosal sinus; the pars vascularis posteriorly transmits the vagus (CN X), accessory nerve (CN XI), and the internal jugular vein.
| Articulations | |
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| Landmarks |
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| Ossification | Formed between the petrous temporal bone and the occipital bone, both of which ossify in cartilage; the foramen is defined as these bones grow around the internal jugular vein and cranial nerves IX-XI. |
Glomus jugulare tumours (paragangliomas) arise from paraganglionic tissue at the jugular foramen, producing pulsatile tinnitus, hearing loss, and progressive lower cranial nerve palsies (Vernet syndrome: CN IX, X, XI at the jugular foramen). CT shows the classic moth-eaten bone destruction of the jugular fossa. MRI demonstrates the salt-and-pepper appearance of high-flow tumour vascularity. Jugular foramen meningiomas and neuromas also occur at this site. Surgical access is via an infratemporal fossa approach.
A paraganglioma arising from jugular body paraganglionic tissue at the jugular foramen produces pulsatile tinnitus, progressive lower cranial nerve palsies (IX, X, XI) causing hoarseness and dysphagia, and a reddish pulsatile mass behind the tympanic membrane, managed by preoperative embolisation followed by surgical excision or primary radiotherapy.
Vernet syndrome from tumour, fracture, or infection compressing cranial nerves IX, X, and XI at the jugular foramen produces dysphagia, hoarseness, loss of taste from the posterior tongue and palate, and ipsilateral trapezius and sternocleidomastoid weakness.
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