Anatomy

Posterior Cranial Fossa

The infratentorial compartment that contains the CEREBELLUM and BRAIN STEM. It is formed by the posterior third of the superior surface of the body of the sphenoid (SPHENOID BONE), by the occipital, the petrous, and mastoid portions of the TEMPORAL BONE, and the posterior inferior angle of the PARIETAL BONE.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The infratentorial compartment that contains the CEREBELLUM and BRAIN STEM. It is formed by the posterior third of the superior surface of the body of the sphenoid (SPHENOID BONE), by the occipital, the petrous, and mastoid portions of the TEMPORAL BONE, and the posterior inferior angle of the PARIETAL BONE.

MeSH Record

Classification

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

6 entry terms
  • Cranial Fossa, Posterior
  • Cranial Fossas, Posterior
  • Fossa, Posterior Cranial
  • Fossas, Posterior Cranial
  • Posterior Cranial Fossas
  • Clivus

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

24 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings abnormalities, anatomy & histology, blood supply, chemistry, cytology, diagnostic imaging, drug effects, embryology, enzymology, growth & development, immunology, injuries, innervation, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, physiopathology, radiation effects, surgery, transplantation, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

NIM when merely locational; entry term CLIVUS: restrict to posterior cranial fossa; other clivus sites are indexed under specific cranial bone, as clivus ossis occipitalis goes under OCCIPITAL BONE; neopl: coord IM with SKULL BASE NEOPLASMS (IM)

MeSH Record

History Note

91(64); was see under SKULL 1964-90

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WE 705

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Posterior Cranial Fossa. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D003388. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D003388
  2. Posterior Cranial Fossa. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posterior_cranial_fossa
  3. Posterior Cranial Fossa. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q503944