| foramen intervertebrale | One of a number of openings into the vertebral canal bounded by the pedicles of adjacent vertebrae above and below, the vertebral body (mostly of the superior vertebra) and intervertebral disc anteriorly, and the articular processes forming the zygopophyseal joint posteriorly. Synonym: foramen intervertebrale. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| foramen ischiadicum | Either of two foramina formed by the sacrospinous and sacrotuberous ligaments crossing the sciatic notches of the hip bone: greater sciatic foramen and lesser sciatic foramen. Synonym: foramen ischiadicum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen jugulare | A passage between the petrous portion of the temporal bone and the jugular process of the occipital, sometimes divided into two by the intrajugular processes; it contains the internal jugular vein, inferior petrosal sinus, the glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory nerves, and meningeal branches of the ascending pharyngeal and occipital arteries. Synonym: foramen jugulare, foramen lacerum posterius. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen lacerum | <anatomy> An irregular aperture, filled with cartilage (basilar cartilage) in the living, located between the apex of the petrous part of the temporal bone, the body of the sphenoid, and the basilar part of the occipital bones. Several structures pass along the margins of the foramen in a nearly horizontal direction but no structures pass through vertically. Synonym: foramen lacerum medium, lacerated foramen, sphenotic foramen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen lacerum anterius | A cleft between the greater and the lesser wings of the sphenoid establishing a channel of communication between the middle cranial fossa and the orbit, through which pass the oculomotor and trochlear nerves, the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve, the abducens nerve, and the ophthalmic veins. Synonym: fissura orbitalis superior, foramen lacerum anterius, sphenoidal fissure. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen lacerum medium | <anatomy> An irregular aperture, filled with cartilage (basilar cartilage) in the living, located between the apex of the petrous part of the temporal bone, the body of the sphenoid, and the basilar part of the occipital bones. Several structures pass along the margins of the foramen in a nearly horizontal direction but no structures pass through vertically. Synonym: foramen lacerum medium, lacerated foramen, sphenotic foramen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen lacerum posterius | A passage between the petrous portion of the temporal bone and the jugular process of the occipital, sometimes divided into two by the intrajugular processes; it contains the internal jugular vein, inferior petrosal sinus, the glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory nerves, and meningeal branches of the ascending pharyngeal and occipital arteries. Synonym: foramen jugulare, foramen lacerum posterius. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foramen lateralis ventriculi quarti | 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 magnum | <anatomy> The large hole at the base of the skull which allows passage of the spinal cord. (12 Dec 1998) |
| foramen mandibulae | The opening into the mandibular canal on the medial surface of the ramus of the mandible giving passage to the inferior alveolar nerve, artery, and vein. Synonym: foramen mandibulae, inferior dental foramen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| 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) |
| 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) |