From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article lists
foramina that occur in the
human body .
Skull
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]
Bone
Cranial fossa
Foramina
Number
Vessels
Nerves
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
4
terminal 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
Apical foramen , the opening at the tip of the root of a tooth
Foramen ovale (heart) , an opening between the venous and arterial sides of the fetal heart
Foramen transversarium , one of a pair of openings in each cervical vertebra, in which the vertebral artery travels
Greater sciatic foramen , a major foramen of the pelvis
Interventricular foramen , channels connecting ventricles in the brain
Intervertebral foramen , foramina formed between vertebrae
Lesser sciatic foramen , an opening between the pelvis and the posterior thigh
Obturator foramen , the opening created by the ischium and pubis bones of the pelvis
Vertebral foramen , the foramen formed by the anterior segment (the body), and the posterior part, the vertebral arch
References