The middle meningeal artery enters the skull through which foramen, and an extradural hematoma at the pterion results from injury to which specific branch of this artery?

• A Foramen ovale; the posterior branch crosses the temporal squama
• B Foramen lacerum; the main trunk at the base of the skull
• C Foramen spinosum; the anterior branch grooves the inner table at the pterion ✓
• D Foramen rotundum; the anterior branch near the sphenoid wing

Explanation

The middle meningeal artery (a branch of the maxillary artery) enters the middle cranial fossa through the foramen spinosum and runs in the epidural space in grooves on the inner aspect of the temporal and parietal bones. At the pterion (junction of frontal, parietal, temporal, and sphenoid bones — the thinnest part of the skull), the anterior branch of the middle meningeal artery is directly beneath the bone. Trauma (temporal blow) fractures this thin bone and lacerates the artery, causing a classic extradural (epidural) hematoma with a 'lucid interval' then rapid neurological deterioration. The foramen ovale transmits CN V3 and the accessory meningeal artery.

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.