| foramen mastoideum | An opening at the posterior portion of the mastoid process, transmitting the mastoid branch of the occipital artery to the dura and an emissary vein to the sigmoid sinus. Synonym: foramen mastoideum. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| foramen mentale | The anterior opening of the mandibular canal on the body of the mandible lateral to and above the mental tubercle giving passage to the mental artery and nerve. Synonym: foramen mentale, mental canal. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen nutricium | The external opening of the nutrient canal in a bone. Synonym: foramen nutricium. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen obturatum | A large, oval or irregularly triangular aperture in the hip bone, the margins of which are formed by the pubis and the ischium; it is closed in the natural state by the obturator membrane, except for a small opening for the passage of the obturator vessels and nerve. Synonym: foramen obturatum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen of Arnold | An occasional opening in the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, between the foramen spinosum and foramen ovale, which transmits the lesser petrosal nerve. Synonym: foramen petrosum, canaliculus innominatus, foramen of Arnold. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen of Key-Retzius | One of the two lateral openings of the fourth ventricle into the subarachnoid space at the cerebellopontine angle. Synonym: apertura lateralis ventriculi quarti, foramen lateralis ventriculi quarti, foramen of Key-Retzius, foramen of Luschka, Retzius' foramen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen of Luschka | One of the two lateral openings of the fourth ventricle into the subarachnoid space at the cerebellopontine angle. Synonym: apertura lateralis ventriculi quarti, foramen lateralis ventriculi quarti, foramen of Key-Retzius, foramen of Luschka, Retzius' foramen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen of transverse process | Foramen processus transversus. Synonym: foramen processus transversi, foramen transversarium, foramen vertebroarterialis, foramen of transverse process, vertebroarterial foramen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen of vena cava | An opening in the right lobe of the central tendon of the diaphragm which transmits the inferior vena cava and branches of the right phrenic nerve. Synonym: foramen venae cavae, foramen of vena cava, foramen quadratum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen omentale | The passage, below and behind the portal hepatis, connecting the two sacs of the peritoneum; it is bounded anteriorly by the hepatoduodenal ligament and posteriorly by a peritoneal fold over the inferior vena cava. Synonym: foramen omentale, foramen epiploicum, aditus ad saccum peritonei minorem, Duverney's foramen, Winslow's foramen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen opticum | The short canal through the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone at the apex of the orbit that gives passage to the optic nerve and the ophthalmic artery. Synonym: canalis opticus, foramen opticum, optic foramen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen ovale | <anatomy, cardiology> The communication between the two atria of the foetal heart. If it remains open (atrial septal defect), then blood will shunt from left to right. (04 Apr 1998) |
| foramen palatinum majus | An opening in the posterolateral corner of the hard palate opposite the last molar tooth, marking the lower end of the pterygopalatine canal. Synonym: foramen palatinum majus, anterior palatine foramen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen parietale | An inconstant foramen in the parietal bone occasionally found bilaterally near the sagittal margin posteriorly; when present it transmits an emissary vein to the superior sagittal sinus. Synonym: foramen parietale. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen petrosum | An occasional opening in the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, between the foramen spinosum and foramen ovale, which transmits the lesser petrosal nerve. Synonym: foramen petrosum, canaliculus innominatus, foramen of Arnold. (05 Mar 2000) |