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 nerve palatine and sphenoid - foramen sphenopalatinum 2 sphenopalatine artery nasopalatine nerve palatine and maxilla - lesser palatine foramina 4 lesser palatine arteries 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 )pterygopalatine ganglion maxilla - infraorbital foramen 2 infraorbital artery 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 toothForamen ovale (heart) , an opening between the venous and arterial sides of the fetal heartForamen transversarium , one of a pair of openings in each cervical vertebra, in which the vertebral artery travelsGreater sciatic foramen , a major foramen of the pelvisInterventricular foramen , channels connecting ventricles in the brainIntervertebral foramen , foramina formed between vertebraeLesser sciatic foramen , an opening between the pelvis and the posterior thighObturator foramen , the opening created by the ischium and pubis bones of the pelvisVertebral foramen , the foramen formed by the anterior segment (the body), and the posterior part, the vertebral arch
References ^ Kalmey JK1, Thewissen JG, Dluzen DE (July 1998). "Age-related size reduction of foramina in the cribriform plate". Anat. Rec . 251 (3): 326– 9. doi :10.1002/(sici)1097-0185(199807)251:3<326::aid-ar7>3.3.co;2-# . PMID 9669759 . {{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)^ Patron V, Berkaoui J, Jankowski R, Lechapt-Zalcman E, Moreau S, Hitier M (Sep 2015). "The forgotten foramina: a study of the anterior cribriform plate". Surg Radiol Anat . 37 (7): 835– 40. doi :10.1007/s00276-015-1471-2 . PMID 25823692 . S2CID 8906446 . ^ a b c d e Chaurasia, BD (2013). BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy Volume 3 . New Delhi: CBS Publishers and Distributors PVT Ltd. pp. 56– 57. ISBN 9788123923321 .
Base of the skull, upper surface
Base of the skull, inferior surface, attachment of muscles marked in red