Answer to Alas, poor Yorick!

Per the stem of the question, the correct answer requires that the structure found within one of the indicated foramina also travels and/or is associated with the cavernous sinus. Of the possible structures, only the internal carotid artery entering the carotid foramen is a candidate. An injury to the base of the skull cold lead to an arteriovenous fistula within the cavernous sinus. Arterial blood will rush into the cavernous sinus, causing it to increase in size, and the arterial blood would lead to retrograde blood flow into the venous tributaries, in particular the ophthalmic vein. In such scenario, the eyeball would pulses in synchrony with the normal heart beat and the eyeball would be engorged, i.e., the exophthalmos. The foramen spinosum also contains an artery, the middle meningeal. However, this artery travels outside the dura mater and is not associated with the cavernous sinus.

Answer to this question is based on material presented in lectures 3 of the Head and Neck Lecture Series.

1 = Foramen lacerum

2 = Foramen ovale

3 = Foramen spinosum

4 = Carotid foramen

5 = Stylomastoid foramen