All cranial nerves and the foramina where they pass from also tell name of bones of which foramen is part of
cranial nerves foramina skull passage bones
cranial nerves foramina skull base diagram

| CN | Name | Foramen / Opening | Bones Forming the Foramen |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Olfactory | Cribriform plate foramina (multiple small holes) | Ethmoid bone (cribriform plate) |
| II | Optic | Optic canal | Sphenoid bone (lesser wing / body) |
| III | Oculomotor | Superior orbital fissure | Sphenoid bone (greater wing + lesser wing) |
| IV | Trochlear | Superior orbital fissure | Sphenoid bone (greater wing + lesser wing) |
| V₁ | Trigeminal – Ophthalmic | Superior orbital fissure | Sphenoid bone (greater wing + lesser wing) |
| V₂ | Trigeminal – Maxillary | Foramen rotundum | Sphenoid bone (greater wing / body) |
| V₃ | Trigeminal – Mandibular | Foramen ovale | Sphenoid bone (greater wing) |
| VI | Abducens | Superior orbital fissure | Sphenoid bone (greater wing + lesser wing) |
| VII | Facial | Internal acoustic meatus → Stylomastoid foramen | Internal acoustic meatus: Temporal bone (petrous part); Stylomastoid foramen: Temporal bone (between mastoid & styloid processes) |
| VIII | Vestibulocochlear | Internal acoustic meatus | Temporal bone (petrous part) |
| IX | Glossopharyngeal | Jugular foramen | Temporal bone (petrous part) + Occipital bone |
| X | Vagus | Jugular foramen | Temporal bone (petrous part) + Occipital bone |
| XI | Accessory (Spinal) | Jugular foramen (exits); spinal root enters via Foramen magnum | Jugular foramen: Temporal bone + Occipital bone; Foramen magnum: Occipital bone |
| XII | Hypoglossal | Hypoglossal canal | Occipital bone |
| Foramen | Mnemonic Nerve(s) |
|---|---|
| Cribriform plate | I — "I smell" |
| Optic canal | II — "I see" |
| Superior orbital fissure | III, IV, V₁, VI — "3, 4, 5-one, 6 through the fissure" |
| Foramen rotundum | V₂ — "Rotund cheek (maxilla)" |
| Foramen ovale | V₃ — "Oval jaw (mandible)" |
| IAM → Stylomastoid | VII, VIII — "Facial + hearing, same meatus" |
| Jugular foramen | IX, X, XI — "9-10-11 jugular" |
| Hypoglossal canal | XII — "Hypo = XII" |
| Bone | Cranial Nerves Passing Through Its Foramina |
|---|---|
| Ethmoid | CN I |
| Sphenoid | CN II, III, IV, V₁, V₂, V₃, VI |
| Temporal | CN VII, VIII, IX, X, XI |
| Occipital | CN IX, X, XI, XII |
Note: CN IX, X, XI pass through the jugular foramen, which is a joint foramen between the temporal and occipital bones, so both bones share credit for those nerves.