Restorative & Materials · single question
Facial nerve (CN VII) — which foramen does it pass through to exit the skull?
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Correct answer: D. Stylomastoid foramen
- A. Foramen spinosum transmits the middle meningeal artery and the meningeal branch of V3 — not the facial nerve.
- B. Foramen ovale transmits V3 (mandibular division of trigeminal) — not the facial nerve.
- C. The internal acoustic meatus is where CN VII and CN VIII ENTER the temporal bone from the posterior cranial fossa — the EXIT foramen is the stylomastoid.
- D. Correct. The facial nerve (CN VII) exits the skull through the STYLOMASTOID FORAMEN — located between the styloid and mastoid processes of the temporal bone. After exiting, it enters the parotid gland and divides into its terminal branches (temporal, zygomatic, buccal, marginal mandibular, cervical).
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