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# Trupi, Corpus The sphenoid bone is irregularly cuboid in shape. It has six surfaces: superior, inferior, anterior, posterior, and two lateral surfaces. ## **Superior Surface** * The superior surface forms the **sella turcica** (Turkish saddle). * Located at the bottom of the sella turcica is a...

# Trupi, Corpus The sphenoid bone is irregularly cuboid in shape. It has six surfaces: superior, inferior, anterior, posterior, and two lateral surfaces. ## **Superior Surface** * The superior surface forms the **sella turcica** (Turkish saddle). * Located at the bottom of the sella turcica is a rounded fossa, the **hypophyseal fossa** which houses the **pituitary gland** (hypophysis). * The sella turcica is bordered anteriorly by a small elevation, the **tuberculum sellae**, and posteriorly by the **dorsum sellae**. ## **Anterior Surface** * Located in front of the hypophyseal fossa is a wide groove called the **chiasmatic sulcus**, which corresponds to the optic chiasm. * The chiasmatic sulcus ends laterally with the optic canals (canalis opticus), through which the optic nerve and ophthalmic artery pass. ## **Anterior to the Chiasmatic Sulcus** * There is a quadrangular depression called the **sphenoidal jugum** or **planum sphenoidale**, which continues laterally with the small wing. ## **Lateral Surface** * The lateral surface of the sphenoid bone houses the olfactory tract, which lies at the medial edge of the sphenoidal jugum. * A groove on the anterior side of the sphenoidal jugum holds the **ethmoid spine**. * Posteriorly, the sphenoidal jugum is separated from the chiasmatic sulcus by the **sphenoidal limb**. ## **Posterior Surface** * The posterior surface of the sphenoid forms the anterior wall of the hypophyseal fossa and the posterior wall of the clivus. * The posterior surface of the sphenoid bone also creates a large, deep groove, the **clivus**, which is bordered on the medial side by the posterior surface of the sphenoid bone and on the lateral side by the anterior surface of the petrous portion of the temporal bone. ## **Lateral Surface of the Sphenoid Bone** * The lateral surface of the sphenoid bone contains a groove for the internal carotid artery (sulcus caroticus). ## **Inferior Surface** * The inferior surface is part of the roof of the nasal cavity. * The anterior portion of the inferior surface forms the sphenoidal rostrum, which ends in a pointed projection (sphenoidal rostrum). * Located in the middle of the inferior surface is a medial ridge, the sphenoidal crest, which joins the vomer. * The lateral portions of the inferior surface include two grooved wings, the sphenoidal conchae, and openings leading to the vomervaginal canal, as well as the sphenoidal sinus. ## **Anterior Surface** * The anterior surface is a smooth, concave surface. It forms the posterior wall of the sphenoidal sinus.