Cranial Cavity in Human Anatomy MCQ Questions and Answers
1. The anterior cranial fossa is mainly formed by which bone?
A) Parietal bone
B) Frontal bone
C) Temporal bone
D) Occipital bone
Answer: B
2. The foramen rotundum transmits which structure?
A) Mandibular nerve
B) Ophthalmic nerve
C) Maxillary nerve
D) Facial nerve
Answer: C
3. The dura mater is derived embryologically from which germ layer?
A) Ectoderm
B) Mesoderm
C) Endoderm
D) Neural crest
Answer: B
4. The internal occipital protuberance lies in relation to which dural venous sinus?
A) Cavernous sinus
B) Inferior sagittal sinus
C) Confluence of sinuses
D) Straight sinus
Answer: C
5. The middle cranial fossa mainly lodges which lobe of the brain?
A) Frontal lobe
B) Occipital lobe
C) Temporal lobe
D) Parietal lobe
Answer: C
6. The foramen ovale transmits which cranial nerve?
A) Maxillary nerve
B) Mandibular nerve
C) Facial nerve
D) Glossopharyngeal nerve
Answer: B
7. The tentorium cerebelli separates:
A) Frontal and parietal lobes
B) Cerebrum and cerebellum
C) Cerebellum and medulla
D) Occipital and temporal lobes
Answer: B
8. The dura mater consists of how many layers in the cranial cavity?
A) One
B) Two
C) Three
D) Four
Answer: B
9. Which sinus runs in the attached margin of the falx cerebri?
A) Straight sinus
B) Superior sagittal sinus
C) Inferior sagittal sinus
D) Transverse sinus
Answer: B
10. The inferior sagittal sinus drains into which structure?
A) Superior sagittal sinus
B) Straight sinus
C) Cavernous sinus
D) Sigmoid sinus
Answer: B
11. The internal carotid artery enters the cranial cavity through which canal?
A) Jugular foramen
B) Foramen ovale
C) Carotid canal
D) Foramen spinosum
Answer: C
12. The dura overlying the pituitary gland forms the:
A) Tentorium cerebelli
B) Diaphragma sellae
C) Falx cerebelli
D) Falx cerebri
Answer: B
13. The cavernous sinus is located on either side of which structure?
A) Pons
B) Pituitary gland
C) Cerebellum
D) Thalamus
Answer: B
14. The superior petrosal sinus connects the cavernous sinus with:
A) Straight sinus
B) Transverse sinus
C) Inferior sagittal sinus
D) Occipital sinus
Answer: B
15. The emissary veins connect:
A) Dura to pia mater
B) Meningeal layers
C) Intracranial sinuses with extracranial veins
D) Arteries to sinuses
Answer: C
16. The foramen spinosum transmits which artery?
A) Vertebral artery
B) Internal carotid artery
C) Middle meningeal artery
D) Ophthalmic artery
Answer: C
17. The clivus is formed by which bones?
A) Temporal and parietal
B) Sphenoid and occipital
C) Ethmoid and frontal
D) Temporal and sphenoid
Answer: B
18. The dura mater in the cranial cavity is innervated mainly by:
A) Facial nerve
B) Glossopharyngeal nerve
C) Trigeminal nerve
D) Vagus nerve
Answer: C
19. The largest dural venous sinus is the:
A) Straight sinus
B) Superior sagittal sinus
C) Cavernous sinus
D) Sigmoid sinus
Answer: B
20. The falx cerebri attaches anteriorly to the:
A) Crista galli
B) Clivus
C) Sella turcica
D) Petrous ridge
Answer: A
21. The dura that forms the roof of the posterior cranial fossa is the:
A) Falx cerebri
B) Diaphragma sellae
C) Tentorium cerebelli
D) Falx cerebelli
Answer: C
22. The diploic veins are found within:
A) Dura mater
B) Arachnoid mater
C) Cranial bones
D) Subdural space
Answer: C
23. The venous drainage of the brain ultimately reaches the:
A) External jugular vein
B) Vertebral vein
C) Internal jugular vein
D) Facial vein
Answer: C
24. The arachnoid villi are involved in:
A) CSF production
B) CSF absorption
C) Venous drainage
D) Arterial supply
Answer: B
25. The foramen lacerum is filled with:
A) Jugular vein
B) Fibrocartilage
C) Internal carotid artery directly
D) Glossopharyngeal nerve
Answer: B
26. The occipital sinus lies within the:
A) Tentorium cerebelli
B) Falx cerebelli
C) Falx cerebri
D) Diaphragma sellae
Answer: B
27. The sigmoid sinus continues as the:
A) External jugular vein
B) Internal jugular vein
C) Subclavian vein
D) Brachiocephalic vein
Answer: B
28. The middle meningeal artery is a branch of which artery?
A) Internal carotid
B) Maxillary artery
C) Superficial temporal artery
D) Ophthalmic artery
Answer: B
29. The cavernous sinus receives blood from the:
A) Straight sinus
B) Ophthalmic veins
C) Transverse sinus
D) Inferior sagittal sinus
Answer: B
30. The posterior clinoid processes belong to which bone?
A) Temporal bone
B) Sphenoid bone
C) Occipital bone
D) Frontal bone
Answer: B
31. The sella turcica houses the:
A) Pineal gland
B) Pituitary gland
C) Thalamus
D) Pons
Answer: B
32. The superior orbital fissure transmits all except:
A) Oculomotor nerve
B) Maxillary nerve
C) Abducent nerve
D) Trochlear nerve
Answer: B
33. (Corrected) The petrosal sinuses are related to which dural venous sinus?
A) Straight sinus
B) Cavernous sinus
C) Transverse sinus
D) Occipital sinus
Answer: B
34. The jugular foramen transmits all except:
A) Glossopharyngeal nerve
B) Vagus nerve
C) Accessory nerve
D) Hypoglossal nerve
Answer: D
35. The emissary vein through the parietal foramen connects with:
A) Facial vein
B) Superior sagittal sinus
C) Cavernous sinus
D) Sigmoid sinus
Answer: B
36. The frontal crest provides attachment to:
A) Tentorium cerebelli
B) Falx cerebri
C) Diaphragma sellae
D) Falx cerebelli
Answer: B
37. The dura in the posterior cranial fossa is supplied mainly by:
A) Maxillary nerve
B) Vagus and C1–C3 nerves
C) Mandibular nerve
D) Ophthalmic nerve
Answer: B
38. The straight sinus lies at the junction of:
A) Falx cerebri and falx cerebelli
B) Falx cerebri and tentorium cerebelli
C) Tentorium and diaphragma sellae
D) Falx cerebelli and occipital bone
Answer: B
39. The dura mater is thickest over:
A) Anterior cranial fossa
B) Middle cranial fossa
C) Posterior cranial fossa
D) Orbit
Answer: C
40. The internal acoustic meatus transmits which nerve?
A) Trigeminal
B) Facial nerve
C) Glossopharyngeal
D) Trochlear
Answer: B
41. The sigmoid sinus lies within which part of the temporal bone?
A) Mastoid part
B) Squamous part
C) Petrous apex
D) Tympanic plate
Answer: A
42. The cribriform plate transmits:
A) Olfactory nerves
B) Optic nerve
C) Facial nerve
D) Glossopharyngeal nerve
Answer: A
43. The hypoglossal canal lies in which bone?
A) Temporal bone
B) Occipital bone
C) Sphenoid bone
D) Frontal bone
Answer: B
44. The posterior cranial fossa contains which structure?
A) Temporal lobes
B) Cerebellum
C) Frontal lobes
D) Pituitary gland
Answer: B
45. The diploë refers to:
A) Outer periosteal layer
B) Spongy bone between cranial tables
C) Dural fold
D) Meningeal vessel
Answer: B
46. The middle meningeal artery enters the cranial cavity via:
A) Foramen ovale
B) Foramen spinosum
C) Foramen rotundum
D) Jugular foramen
Answer: B
47. The dura mater pain is referred mainly to areas supplied by:
A) Facial nerve
B) Trigeminal nerve
C) Vagus nerve
D) Glossopharyngeal nerve
Answer: B
48. The venous sinus located in the midline beneath the falx cerebelli is the:
A) Occipital sinus
B) Straight sinus
C) Inferior sagittal sinus
D) Cavernous sinus
Answer: A
49. The anterior clinoid process gives attachment to:
A) Tentorium cerebelli
B) Falx cerebri
C) Falx cerebelli
D) Diaphragma sellae
Answer: A
50. The superior sagittal sinus drains mainly into the:
A) Right transverse sinus
B) Left transverse sinus
C) Straight sinus
D) Occipital sinus
Answer: A
51. The falx cerebelli is attached to which structure inferiorly?
A) Tentorium cerebelli
B) Falx cerebri
C) Internal occipital crest
D) Diaphragma sellae
Answer: C
52. The confluence of sinuses is also known as the:
A) Tentorial sinus
B) Torcular Herophili
C) Sigmoid junction
D) Arachnoid villus
Answer: B
53. Which sinus passes along the upper border of the petrous temporal bone?
A) Transverse sinus
B) Superior petrosal sinus
C) Inferior petrosal sinus
D) Cavernous sinus
Answer: B
54. The inferior petrosal sinus drains into which vein?
A) External jugular vein
B) Internal jugular vein
C) Vertebral vein
D) Maxillary vein
Answer: B
55. (Corrected) Which cranial nerve runs in the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus?
A) Abducent nerve
B) Oculomotor nerve
C) Trochlear nerve
D) Optic nerve
Answer: B
56. The meningeal layer of dura separates from the periosteal layer to form:
A) Arteries
B) Venous sinuses
C) Emissary veins
D) Arachnoid villi
Answer: B
57. Which foramen transmits both artery and nerve?
A) Foramen magnum
B) Foramen spinosum
C) Foramen rotundum
D) Foramen lacerum
Answer: B
58. The posterior cranial fossa communicates with the spinal canal through:
A) Foramen rotundum
B) Foramen magnum
C) Jugular foramen
D) Hypoglossal canal
Answer: B
59. The arachnoid mater is separated from pia mater by:
A) Subdural space
B) Subarachnoid space
C) Dural space
D) Epidural space
Answer: B
60. The pia mater extends into:
A) All sulci of the brain
B) Only major sulci
C) Ventricles
D) Skull sutures
Answer: A
61. The emissary vein through the mastoid foramen connects to:
A) Cavernous sinus
B) Sigmoid sinus
C) Superior sagittal sinus
D) Inferior petrosal sinus
Answer: B
62. The blood from the cavernous sinus finally drains into:
A) Straight sinus
B) Internal jugular vein
C) External jugular vein
D) Superior sagittal sinus
Answer: B
63. The superior sagittal sinus begins at:
A) Crista galli
B) Foramen magnum
C) Sella turcica
D) Clivus
Answer: A
64. The tentorial notch allows passage of which structure?
A) Spinal cord
B) Pituitary stalk
C) Midbrain
D) Cerebellum
Answer: C
65. The dura overlying the cerebellum forms the:
A) Falx cerebri
B) Tentorium cerebelli
C) Diaphragma sellae
D) Falx cerebelli
Answer: B
66. The inferior sagittal sinus lies in which margin of falx cerebri?
A) Convex margin
B) Free margin
C) Posterior margin
D) Anterior margin
Answer: B
67. The cavernous sinus is drained posteriorly by:
A) Superior and inferior petrosal sinuses
B) Straight sinus
C) Occipital sinus
D) Transverse sinus
Answer: A
68. The arachnoid villi project into:
A) Dural venous sinuses
B) Subarachnoid space
C) Ventricles
D) Dural folds
Answer: A
69. The emissary veins are valveless, which facilitates:
A) CSF flow
B) Spread of infection
C) Dural fold stability
D) Venous constriction
Answer: B
70. The pituitary gland lies in which fossa?
A) Hypophyseal fossa
B) Clinoid fossa
C) Cerebellar fossa
D) Temporal fossa
Answer: A
71. The sigmoid sinus is a continuation of which sinus?
A) Transverse sinus
B) Straight sinus
C) Cavernous sinus
D) Occipital sinus
Answer: A
72. The middle cranial fossa is divided into right and left parts by:
A) Falx cerebri
B) Sella turcica
C) Tentorium cerebelli
D) Falx cerebelli
Answer: B
73. The falx cerebri ends posteriorly at:
A) Cribriform plate
B) Tentorium cerebelli
C) Sella turcica
D) Frontal crest
Answer: B
74. The dura forming the roof of hypophyseal fossa is pierced by:
A) Infundibulum of pituitary gland
B) Optic chiasma
C) Hypoglossal nerve
D) Carotid artery
Answer: A
75. The internal occipital crest divides the:
A) Posterior cranial fossa
B) Middle cranial fossa
C) Foramen magnum
D) Tentorium cerebelli
Answer: A
76. The occipital sinus usually drains into the:
A) Straight sinus
B) Confluence of sinuses
C) Cavernous sinus
D) Transverse sinus
Answer: B
77. The falx cerebri attaches posteriorly to:
A) Clivus
B) Internal occipital crest
C) Sphenoid crest
D) Petrous ridge
Answer: B
78. The cerebellum lies in relation to which part of the skull?
A) Anterior cranial fossa
B) Middle cranial fossa
C) Posterior cranial fossa
D) Orbital plate
Answer: C
79. The anterior cranial fossa is separated from the middle cranial fossa by:
A) Clivus
B) Lesser wings of sphenoid
C) Greater wings of sphenoid
D) Sella turcica
Answer: B
80. The frontal crest is a feature of:
A) Frontal bone
B) Ethmoid bone
C) Sphenoid bone
D) Temporal bone
Answer: A
81. The cavernous sinus contains which cranial nerves in its lateral wall?
A) III, IV, V2, VI
B) III, IV, V1, V2
C) II, III, IV, V
D) IV, V, VI, VII
Answer: B
82. The abducent nerve runs through the:
A) Lateral wall of cavernous sinus
B) Center of cavernous sinus
C) Inferior petrosal sinus
D) Jugular bulb
Answer: B
83. The dura over the convex surface of the brain is supplied by:
A) Internal carotid branches
B) Middle meningeal artery
C) Superficial temporal artery
D) Maxillary vein
Answer: B
84. The internal jugular vein begins at:
A) Carotid canal
B) Jugular foramen
C) Hypoglossal canal
D) Foramen magnum
Answer: B
85. The dura lining the posterior fossa forms a fold between cerebellar hemispheres called:
A) Falx cerebelli
B) Falx cerebri
C) Tentorium cerebelli
D) Diaphragma sellae
Answer: A
86. The foramen magnum transmits all except:
A) Vertebral arteries
B) Spinal part of accessory nerve
C) Meninges
D) Glossopharyngeal nerve
Answer: D
87. The cavernous sinus communicates with facial vein via:
A) Mastoid emissary vein
B) Superior ophthalmic vein
C) Pterygoid plexus
D) Straight sinus
Answer: B
88. The sphenoid air sinus lies beneath the:
A) Ethmoid bone
B) Sella turcica
C) Cribriform plate
D) Clivus
Answer: B
89. The dura mater is continuous with spinal dura at:
A) Foramen magnum
B) Tentorial notch
C) Hypoglossal canal
D) Jugular foramen
Answer: A
90. The dura mater receives arterial supply from:
A) Internal jugular artery
B) Meningeal arteries
C) Cerebral arteries
D) Diploic arteries
Answer: B
91. The venous lacunae are found along the:
A) Superior sagittal sinus
B) Straight sinus
C) Cavernous sinus
D) Occipital sinus
Answer: A
92. The middle cranial fossa is formed mainly by:
A) Ethmoid bone
B) Sphenoid and temporal bones
C) Frontal and ethmoid bones
D) Parietal bones
Answer: B
93. The posterior cranial fossa is deepest at:
A) Tentorium cerebelli
B) Falx cerebri
C) Foramen magnum
D) Internal occipital crest
Answer: C
94. The cerebellar tentorium attaches laterally to:
A) Occipital crest
B) Superior border of petrous temporal bone
C) Mastoid part
D) Clivus
Answer: B
95. The arachnoid granulations are most numerous along:
A) Cavernous sinus
B) Superior sagittal sinus
C) Straight sinus
D) Transverse sinus
Answer: B
96. (Corrected) The emissary vein through the foramen Vesalius (sphenoidal emissary foramen) connects which two venous systems?
A) Superior sagittal sinus and transverse sinus
B) Pterygoid venous plexus and cavernous sinus
C) Facial vein and sigmoid sinus
D) Superior ophthalmic and straight sinus
Answer: B
97. The cranial dura forms true venous channels due to:
A) Separation of periosteal and meningeal layers
B) Fusion of pia and arachnoid layers
C) Presence of emissary veins
D) Arterial perforations
Answer: A
98. The cavernous sinus lies between which two bones?
A) Temporal and occipital
B) Sphenoid and temporal
C) Ethmoid and sphenoid
D) Frontal and sphenoid
Answer: B
99. The falx cerebri contains within it:
A) Transverse sinus
B) Straight sinus
C) Superior and inferior sagittal sinuses
D) Cavernous sinus
Answer: C
100. The dura mater adheres most firmly to the skull at:
A) Vertex
B) Base of skull
C) Parietal bone
D) Occipital region
Answer: B