The jugular fossa is located in the
temporal bone, posterior to the
carotid canal and the
cochlear aqueduct. In the bony ridge dividing the carotid canal from the jugular fossa is the small inferior tympanic canaliculus for the passage of the tympanic branch of the
glossopharyngeal nerve.
Variation The jugular fossa has variable depth and size in different skulls. == Function ==