| Subarcuate fossa | |
|---|---|
 Lefttemporal bone. Inner surface. (Subarcuate fossa not labeled, butaquaeductus vestibuli labeled at lower right.) | |
 Base of the skull. Upper surface. (Subarcuate fossa not labeled, buttemporal bone is identified in pink, and "Eminentia arcuata" (i.e. arcuate eminence, corresponding to the superior semicircular canal) is labeled.) | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | fossa subarcuata ossis temporalis |
| TA98 | A02.1.06.034 |
| TA2 | 672 |
| FMA | 56418 |
| Anatomical terms of bone | |
Thesubarcuate fossa is a shallow[1] depression upon the internal surface of thepetrous part of the temporal bone[2] forming the wall of theposterior cranial fossa. The fossa accommodates theflocculus of thecerebellum. It is situated lateral/posterior to theinternal auditory meatus.[1]
The subarcuate fossa is situated posteriorly[3]: 568 and superiorly[3]: 737 between the opening of thevestibular aqueduct and opening ofinternal auditory meatus.[3]: 568, 737
The surface of the subarcuate fossa is lined withdura mater and lodges theendolymphatic sac andduct, as well as a minute artery and vein;[3]: 568 some veins from the mucosa ofmastoid antrum enter the cranial cavity at the subarcuate fossa to drain at thesuperior petrosal sinus - they are remnants of larger subarcuate veins of childhood and represent a possible route of intracranial infectious spread.[3]: 749
It is extensive in most primates (except for great apes) and nearly all mammals. In these animals, the subarcuate fossa houses a part of the cerebellum, the petrosal lobe.[4][5]
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