| 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) |
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| 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) |
| foramen processus transversi | Foramen processus transversus. Synonym: foramen processus transversi, foramen transversarium, foramen vertebroarterialis, foramen of transverse process, vertebroarterial foramen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen quadratum | 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 rotundum | <anatomy> An opening in the base of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, transmitting the maxillary nerve. Synonym: round foramen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen sacrale | One of the openings between the fused sacral vertebrae transmitting the sacral nerves. The anterior sacral foramina transmit ventral primary rami of the sacral nerves. The posterior sacral foramina give passage to dorsal primary rami of the sacral nerves. Synonym: foramen sacrale. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen singulare | A foramen in the internal acoustic meatus, posterior to the cochlear area, that transmits the nerves to the ampulla of the posterior saemicircular duct. Synonym: foramen singulare. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen sphenopalatinum | The foramen formed from the sphenopalatine notch of the palatine bone in articulation with the sphenoid bone; it transmits the sphenopalatine artery and accompanying nerves. Synonym: foramen sphenopalatinum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen spinosum | <anatomy> Transmits middle meningeal artery (12 Dec 1998) |
| foramen stylomastoideum | The distal or external opening of the facial canal on the inferior surface of the petrous portion of the temporal bone, between the styloid and mastoid processes; it transmits the facial nerve and stylomastoid artery. Synonym: foramen stylomastoideum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen subseptale | In the embryonic heart, the temporary opening between right and left atria situated between the lower margin of the septum primum and the atrioventricular canal cushions, in an adult heart, the abnormal persistence of the so-named communication which is normal in young embryos. Synonym: foramen subseptale, ostium primum, primary interatrial foramen. (05 Mar 2000) |