Magnetic resonance imaging of the jugular foramen.

The jugular foramen in normal volunteers was studied with 1.5 T magnetic resonance (MR) systems in 3-mm-thick head- and surface-coil images. Anatomic sections through cadaver heads were correlated with the MR images to identify the jugular bulb and the course of cranial nerves IX-XI. Sagittal images were more useful than coronal or axial to show the course of these nerves through the skull base. MR demonstrates the anatomic relations of the jugular foramen (except its osseous margins) such that its primary use in evaluating this region can be anticipated.