Pictorial review: Radiology of the sphenoid bone

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.