In the sphenoid bone, the posterior border, smooth and rounded, is received into the

lateral fissure In neuroanatomy, the lateral sulcus (also called Sylvian fissure, after Franciscus Sylvius, or lateral fissure) is one of the most prominent features of the human brain. The lateral sulcus is a deep fissure in each hemisphere that separates the ...

of the

brain The brain is an organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. It consists of nervous tissue and is typically located in the head ( cephalization), usually near organs for special ...

; the medial end of this border forms the anterior clinoid process, which gives attachment to the

tentorium cerebelli The cerebellar tentorium or tentorium cerebelli (Latin for "tent of the cerebellum") is an extension of the dura mater that separates the cerebellum from the inferior portion of the occipital lobes. Structure The cerebellar tentorium is an arche ...

; it is sometimes joined to the

middle clinoid process The anterior boundary of the sella turcica is completed by two small eminences, one on either side, called the middle clinoid processes. It is found lateral to the sella turcica. Etymology Clinoid likely comes from the Greek root ''klinein'' or ...

by a spicule of bone, and when this occurs the termination of the groove for the internal carotid artery is converted into a

foramen In anatomy and osteology, a foramen (;Entry "foramen"
in

(carotico-clinoid).

Etymology

The anterior and posterior clinoid processes surround the sella turcica like the four corners of a four poster bed. Cline is Greek for bed. –oid, as usual, indicates a similarity to. The term may also come from the Greek root ''klinein'' or the Latin ''clinare'', both meaning "sloped" as in "inclined".

Additional images

Image:Anterior clinoid process.jpg, Anterior clinoid process

Petroclinoid ligament

The petroclinoid ligament is a fold of

dura mater In neuroanatomy, dura mater is a thick membrane made of dense irregular connective tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It is the outermost of the three layers of membrane called the meninges that protect the central nervous syste ...

. It extends between the

posterior clinoid process In the sphenoid bone, the anterior boundary of the sella turcica is completed by two small eminences, one on either side, called the anterior clinoid processes, while the posterior boundary is formed by a square-shaped plate of bone, the dorsum ...

and anterior clinoid process and the petrosal part of the

temporal bone The temporal bones are situated at the sides and base of the skull, and lateral to the temporal lobes of the cerebral cortex. The temporal bones are overlaid by the sides of the head known as the temples, and house the structures of the ears ...

of the skull. See posterior clinoid process page for full information on this ligament.

References

External links

* * Bones of the head and neck {{musculoskeletal-stub