The sphenoid bone is located in the central skull base and forms part of th
e floor of the anterior and middle cranial fossae. The optic foramen, super
ior orbital fissure, foramen rotundum, foramen ovale and foramen spinosum a
re found within this complex bone. These foramina form important transition
zones between intracranial and extracranial structures. Imaging plays a ce
ntral role in delineating lesions within the sphenoid bone and the associat
ed fissures and neural foramina. The purpose of this pictorial review is to
highlight the pertinent normal and pathological anatomy of the sphenoid bo
ne.