List of foramina of the human body

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This article lists foramina that occur in the human body.

Contents

Skull

Image of base of the skull with several of the foramina labeled Skull foramina labeled.svg
Image of base of the skull with several of the foramina labeled

The human skull has numerous openings (foramina), through which cranial nerves, arteries, veins, and other structures pass. These foramina vary in size and number, with age. [1] [2]

BoneCranial fossaForaminaNumberVesselsNerves
frontal - supraorbital foramen 2 supraorbital artery supraorbital vein supraorbital nerve
frontal anterior cranial fossa foramen cecum 1 emissary veins to superior sagittal sinus from the upper part of the nose [3]
ethmoid anterior cranial fossa (osama) foramina of cribriform plate ~20- olfactory nerve bundles (I)
ethmoid anterior cranial fossa anterior ethmoidal foramen 2 anterior ethmoidal artery
anterior ethmoidal vein
anterior ethmoidal nerve
ethmoid anterior cranial fossa posterior ethmoidal foramen 2 posterior ethmoidal artery
posterior ethmoidal vein
posterior ethmoidal nerve
sphenoid - optic canal 2 ophthalmic artery optic nerve (II)
sphenoid middle cranial fossa superior orbital fissure 2 superior ophthalmic vein oculomotor nerve (III)
trochlear nerve (IV)
lacrimal, frontal and nasociliary branches of ophthalmic nerve (V1)
abducent nerve (VI)
sphenoid middle cranial fossa foramen rotundum 2- maxillary nerve (V2)
maxilla - incisive foramen/canal/Stenson/Scarpa 4terminal branch of descending palatine artery Terminal part of [3] nasopalatine nerve (V2)
palatine - greater palatine foramen 2 greater palatine artery
greater palatine vein
greater palatine nerve
palatine and sphenoid - foramen sphenopalatinum 2 sphenopalatine artery
sphenopalatine vein
nasopalatine nerve
rami nasales posteriores superiores (V2)
palatine and maxilla - lesser palatine foramina 4 lesser palatine arteries
lesser palatine vein
lesser palatine nerve, greater palatine nerve [3]
sphenoid and maxilla - inferior orbital fissure 2 inferior ophthalmic veins
infraorbital artery
infraorbital vein, tributary of pterygoid plexus
zygomatic nerve and infraorbital nerve of maxillary nerve (V2)
orbital branches of pterygopalatine ganglion
maxilla - infraorbital foramen 2 infraorbital artery
infraorbital vein, tributary of pterygoid plexus
infraorbital nerve
sphenoid middle cranial fossa foramen ovale 2 accessory meningeal artery, emissary vein connecting cavernous sinus with pterygoid plexus mandibular nerve (V3)
lesser petrosal nerve (occasionally) [3]
sphenoid middle cranial fossa foramen spinosum 2 middle meningeal artery meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve (V3)
sphenoid middle cranial fossa foramen lacerum 2 artery of pterygoid canal, Meningeal branch of ascending pharyngeal artery, emissary vein nerve of pterygoid canal through its anterior wall
temporal middle cranial fossa carotid canal 2 internal carotid artery internal carotid plexus, sympathetics from the superior cervical ganglion
temporal posterior cranial fossa internal acoustic meatus 2 labyrinthine artery facial nerve (VII), vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)
temporal posterior cranial fossa jugular foramen 2 internal jugular vein, inferior petrosal sinus, sigmoid sinus glossopharyngeal nerve (IX), vagus nerve (X), accessory nerve (XI)
temporal posterior cranial fossa stylomastoid foramen 2 stylomastoid artery facial nerve (VII)
occipital posterior cranial fossa hypoglossal canal 2- hypoglossal nerve (XII)
occipital posterior cranial fossa foramen magnum 1 anterior and posterior spinal arteries, vertebral arteries lowest part of medulla oblongata, three meninges, ascending spinal fibers of accessory nerve (XI) [3]
occipital posterior cranial fossa condylar canal 1 occipital emissary vein, meningeal branch of occipital artery

Spine

Within the vertebral column (spine) of vertebrates, including the human spine, each bone has an opening at both its top and bottom to allow nerves, arteries, veins, etc. to pass through.

Other

Related Research Articles

Articles related to anatomy include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacrum</span> Triangular-shaped bone at the bottom of the spine

The sacrum, in human anatomy, is a large, triangular bone at the base of the spine that forms by the fusing of the sacral vertebrae (S1–S5) between ages 18 and 30.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spinal nerve</span> Nerve that carries signals between the spinal cord and the body

A spinal nerve is a mixed nerve, which carries motor, sensory, and autonomic signals between the spinal cord and the body. In the human body there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, one on each side of the vertebral column. These are grouped into the corresponding cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal regions of the spine. There are eight pairs of cervical nerves, twelve pairs of thoracic nerves, five pairs of lumbar nerves, five pairs of sacral nerves, and one pair of coccygeal nerves. The spinal nerves are part of the peripheral nervous system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foramen magnum</span> Opening in the occipital bone of the skull

The foramen magnum is a large, oval-shaped opening in the occipital bone of the skull. It is one of the several oval or circular openings (foramina) in the base of the skull. The spinal cord, an extension of the medulla oblongata, passes through the foramen magnum as it exits the cranial cavity. Apart from the transmission of the medulla oblongata and its membranes, the foramen magnum transmits the vertebral arteries, the anterior and posterior spinal arteries, the tectorial membranes and alar ligaments. It also transmits the accessory nerve into the skull.

In anatomy and osteology, a foramen is an open hole that is present in extant or extinct amniotes. Foramina inside the body of animals typically allow nerves, arteries, veins, or other structures to connect one part of the body with another.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cervical vertebrae</span> Vertebrae of the neck

In tetrapods, cervical vertebrae are the vertebrae of the neck, immediately below the skull. Truncal vertebrae lie caudal of cervical vertebrae. In sauropsid species, the cervical vertebrae bear cervical ribs. In lizards and saurischian dinosaurs, the cervical ribs are large; in birds, they are small and completely fused to the vertebrae. The vertebral transverse processes of mammals are homologous to the cervical ribs of other amniotes. Most mammals have seven cervical vertebrae, with the only three known exceptions being the manatee with six, the two-toed sloth with five or six, and the three-toed sloth with nine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cribriform plate</span> Part of the ethmoid bone in the skull

In mammalian anatomy, the cribriform plate, horizontal lamina or lamina cribrosa is part of the ethmoid bone. It is received into the ethmoidal notch of the frontal bone and roofs in the nasal cavities. It supports the olfactory bulb, and is perforated by olfactory foramina for the passage of the olfactory nerves to the roof of the nasal cavity to convey smell to the brain. The foramina at the medial part of the groove allow the passage of the nerves to the upper part of the nasal septum while the foramina at the lateral part transmit the nerves to the superior nasal concha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obturator foramen</span> Opening in the pelvis

The obturator foramen is the large opening created by the ischium and pubis bones of the pelvis through which nerves and blood vessels pass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foramen spinosum</span> Hole in the sphenoid bone of the skull

The foramen spinosum is a hole located in the greater wing of the sphenoid. It is located posterolateral to the foramen ovale and anterior to the sphenoidal spine. It allows the passage of the middle meningeal artery, middle meningeal vein and usually the meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jugular foramen</span> Opening in the base of the skull allowing many structures to pass

A jugular foramen is one of the two large foramina (openings) in the base of the skull, located behind the carotid canal. It is formed by the temporal bone and the occipital bone. It allows many structures to pass, including the inferior petrosal sinus, three cranial nerves, the sigmoid sinus, and meningeal arteries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater wing of sphenoid bone</span> Large part of the skull front behind the eye socket

The greater wing of the sphenoid bone, or alisphenoid, is a bony process of the sphenoid bone; there is one on each side, extending from the side of the body of the sphenoid and curving upward, laterally, and backward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anterior ethmoidal foramen</span> Opening in the ethmoid bone in the skull

The anterior ethmoidal foramen is a small opening in the ethmoid bone in the skull.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petrous part of the temporal bone</span>

The petrous part of the temporal bone is pyramid-shaped and is wedged in at the base of the skull between the sphenoid and occipital bones. Directed medially, forward, and a little upward, it presents a base, an apex, three surfaces, and three angles, and houses in its interior, the components of the inner ear. The petrous portion is among the most basal elements of the skull and forms part of the endocranium. Petrous comes from the Latin word petrosus, meaning "stone-like, hard". It is one of the densest bones in the body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anterior cranial fossa</span>

The anterior cranial fossa is a depression in the floor of the cranial base which houses the projecting frontal lobes of the brain. It is formed by the orbital plates of the frontal, the cribriform plate of the ethmoid, and the small wings and front part of the body of the sphenoid; it is limited behind by the posterior borders of the small wings of the sphenoid and by the anterior margin of the chiasmatic groove. The lesser wings of the sphenoid separate the anterior and middle fossae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palatine process of maxilla</span> Thick, horizontal process of the maxilla

In human anatomy of the mouth, the palatine process of maxilla, is a thick, horizontal process of the maxilla. It forms the anterior three quarters of the hard palate, the horizontal plate of the palatine bone making up the rest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater sciatic notch</span>

The greater sciatic notch is a notch in the ilium, one of the bones that make up the human pelvis. It lies between the posterior inferior iliac spine (above), and the ischial spine (below). The sacrospinous ligament changes this notch into an opening, the greater sciatic foramen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Head and neck anatomy</span>

This article describes the anatomy of the head and neck of the human body, including the brain, bones, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, glands, nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, and throat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of human anatomy</span> Overview of and topical guide to human anatomy

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human anatomy:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hip bone</span> Bone of the pelvis

The hip bone is a large flat bone, constricted in the center and expanded above and below. In some vertebrates it is composed of three parts: the ilium, ischium, and the pubis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vertebra</span> Bone in the vertebral column

The spinal column, a defining synapomorphy shared by nearly all vertebrates, is a moderately flexible series of vertebrae, each constituting a characteristic irregular bone whose complex structure is composed primarily of bone, and secondarily of hyaline cartilage. They show variation in the proportion contributed by these two tissue types; such variations correlate on one hand with the cerebral/caudal rank, and on the other with phylogenetic differences among the vertebrate taxa.

References

  1. Kalmey JK1, ThewissenJG, Dluzen DE (July 1998). "Age-related size reduction of foramina in the cribriform plate". Anat. Rec. 251 (3): 326–9. doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-0185(199807)251:3<326::aid-ar7>3.3.co;2-#. PMID   9669759.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Patron V, Berkaoui J, Jankowski R, Lechapt-Zalcman E, Moreau S, Hitier M (Sep 2015). "The forgotten foramina: a study of the anterior cribriform plate". Surg Radiol Anat. 37 (7): 835–40. doi:10.1007/s00276-015-1471-2. PMID   25823692. S2CID   8906446.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Chaurasia, BD (2013). BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy Volume 3. New Delhi: CBS Publishers and Distributors PVT Ltd. pp. 56–57. ISBN   9788123923321.