foramen

(noun)

An opening, an orifice, or a short passage.

Related Terms

  • sternocleidomastoid
  • accessory nerve
  • trapezius

Examples of foramen in the following topics:

  • Foramina

    • In anatomy, a foramen is any opening.
    • Supraorbital foramen: Located in the frontal bone, it allows passage of the supraorbital vein, artery, and nerve into the orbit.
    • Optic foramen: Located in the sphenoid, it allows the passage of the ophthalmic artery and nerve from the optic canal into the orbit.
    • Foramen magnum: Located in the occipital bone, it allows the passage of the spinal and vertebral arteries and the spinal cord to pass from the skull into the vertebral column.
    • Foramen rotundum: Located in the sphenoid bone, it allows passage of the maxillary nerve.
  • Accessory (XI) Nerve

    • It begins in the central nervous system (CNS) and exits the cranium through a foramen.
    • The fibers that make up the accessory nerve enter the skull through the foramen magnum and proceed to exit the jugular foramen with cranial nerves IX and X.
    • Upon exiting the skull via the jugular foramen, the spinal accessory nerve pierces the sternocleidomastoid muscle before terminating on the trapezius muscle.
  • Pubis

    • It forms a portion of the obturator foramen and extends from the body to the median plane where it articulates with its counterpart from the opposite side.
    • It passes laterally and downward from the medial end of the superior ramus, and becomes narrower as it descends and joins with the inferior ramus of the ischium below the obturator foramen.
    • (1) sacrum, (2) ilium, (3) ischium, (4) pubis: 4a-body; 4b-superior ramus; 4c-inferior ramus, (5) pubic symphisis, (6) acetabulum, (7) obturator foramen, (8) coccyx, (red dotted line) linea terminalis.
  • Fetal Circulation

    • In the fetus, there is an opening between the right and left atrium (the foramen ovale), and most of the blood flows through this hole directly into the left atrium from the right atrium, thus bypassing pulmonary circulation.
    • Some of the blood entering the right atrium does not pass directly to the left atrium through the foramen ovale, but enters the right ventricle and is pumped into the pulmonary artery.
    • This leads to the closure of the foramen ovale, which is then referred to as the fossa ovalis.
  • Ventricles

    • These two ventricles open into the third ventricle by a common opening called the foramen of Monro.
    • From there, it passes into the central canal of the spinal cord and into the cisterns of the subarachnoid space via three small foramina: the central foramen of Magendie and the two lateral foramina of Luschka.
    • Lateral and anterior views of the brain ventricles, including the third and fourth ventricle, lateral ventricles, interventricular foramen, cerebral aqueduct, and central canal.
  • Facial (VII) Nerve

    • The motor and sensory parts of the facial nerve enter the petrous temporal bone into the internal auditory meatus (intimately close to the inner ear), then runs a tortuous course (including two tight turns) through the facial canal, emerges from the stylomastoid foramen, and passes through the parotid gland, where it divides into five major branches.
  • The Peritoneum

    • There are two main regions of the peritoneum, connected by the epiploic foramen (also known as the omental foramen or foramen of Winslow).
    • The epiploic foramen, greater sac or general cavity (red) and lesser sac, or omental bursa (blue).
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid and Its Circulation

    • It circulates from the lateral ventricles to the foramen of Monro (interventricular foramen), third ventricle, aqueduct of Sylvius (cerebral aqueduct), fourth ventricle, foramen of Magendie (median aperture), foramen of Luschka (lateral apertures), and the subarachnoid space over the brain and the spinal cord.
  • Arteries of the Pelvis and Lower Limbs

    • At the most superior border of the greater sciatic foramen, the large opening to the rear of the pelvis, the internal iliac artery divides into anterior and posterior trunks.
  • Orbits

    • To the rear of the orbit, the optic foramen opens into the optical canal through which the optic nerve and ophthalmic artery pass.
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