Corpus: Sphenopetrosal fissure

The fissura sphenopetrosa is a lateral extension of the foramen lacerum. The petrosal nerve emerges through it from the petrous pyramid towards the outer base of the skull.

Some authors state differently that the greater petrosal nerve also passes through the sphenopetrous fissure. However, it usually leaves the cranial cavity through the foramen lacerum itself. It then travels together with the profundus petrosal nerve as the pterygoid canal nerve into the pterygoid canal to finally reach the pterygopalatine ganglion in the pterygopalatine fossa.