Communication between orbital cavity and middle cranial fossa.
Present between greater and lesser wing of sphenoid bone.
Common tendinous ring (Annulus of Zinn) divides SOF into 3 parts- lateral, middle, medial
Content of superior orbital fissure-
1. Nerves: CN 3, 4, 5a, 6
• Cranial nerve 3 / oculomotor nerve (Superior and inferior division)
• Cranial nerve 4 / trochlear nerve
• Cranial nerve 5a / opthalmic division (Frontal, lacrimal, nasociliary branches)
• Cranial nerve 6 / abducent nerve
2. Veins: Superior and inferior opthalmic vein
3. Artery: Recurrent meningeal branch of lacrimal artery
Nerves pass through cavernous sinus- CN 3, 4, 5a, 5b, 6
1. Cranial nerve 3 / Oculomotor nerve
2. Cranial nerve 4 / Trochlear nerve
3. Cranial nerve 5a / Opthalmic nerve
4. Cranial nerve 5b / Maxillary nerve
5. Cranial nerve 6 / Abducent nerve