A jugular foramen is one of the two (left and right) large foramina (openings) in the base of the skull, located behind the carotid canal.

It allows many structures to pass, including the inferior petrosal sinus, three cranial nerves, the sigmoid sinus, and meningeal arteries.

The jugular foramen may be subdivided into three compartments, each with their own contents.

An alternative imaging based subclassification exists, delineated by the jugular spine which is a bony ridge partially separating the jugular foramen into two parts: Obstruction of the jugular foramen can result in jugular foramen syndrome.

[2][3] This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 181 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)