Temporal bone (inferior view) (Latin)

On the inferior side, the temporal bone provides a clear visual of the several landmarks not seen on other views. These are the processus styloideus, fossa mandibularis and tuberculum articulare ossis temporalis. This view also gives the best visual of several openings (foramina) in the os temporale through which structures enter and exit the cranial cavity. These include the canalis carotidis, for the passage of the arteria carotis interna, the foramen stylomastoideus, transmitting the nervus facialis and arteria stylomastoidea, and the foramen mastoideum for the passage of the venae emissariae.