The revised anatomy of the canals connecting the orbit with the cranial cavity

ABSTRACT

Orbits are connected with the middle cranial fossa via the optic canal, the superior orbital fissure, the M-type orbitomeningeal foramen, the metoptic canal, an accessory anterior opening of the foramen rotundum, and Warwick’s canal. They are also in communication with the anterior cranial fossa via the ethmoidal canals and the A-type orbitomeningeal foramen. The anatomy of these conduits has been recently enriched with several details that are summarized and reviewed in this article.

KEYWORDS:

• Ethmoidal canals
• metoptic canal
• optic canal
• orbit
• orbitomeningeal foramen
• sphenoid

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.