Base of the skull

The cranial base initially is laid down as condensed cartilage. Two medial areas can be distinguished. Caudally, beside the notochord, is the parachordal region. Rostrally, around the pituitary gland and in the space between the two orbits and the nasal cavities, is the prechordal region. The capsules of the sensory organs form on both sides of these medial areas.