what course through the foramen lacerum

by Berniece Bruen 4 min read

These are the elements that pass through the foramen lacerum: venous drainage, nerve and artery of the pterygoid canal. The foramen lacerum is also transited by the greater petrosal nerve. This will eventually become a part of the nerve of the pterygoid canal (this also contains the deep petrosal nerve).

The two nerves that pass from the foramen lacerum are the greater petrosal nerve, which represents the pre-ganglionic parasympathetic fibers, and the deep petrosal nerve which, representing the post-ganglionic sympathetic fibers.

Full Answer

What structures pass through the various foramen?

The following structures pass through the lesser sciatic foramen:

  • Internal pudendal artery and vein
  • Pudendal nerve (note the pudendal nerve first leaves the pelvis via the greater sciatic foramen, and then re-enters via the lesser sciatic foramen)
  • Obturator internus tendon
  • Nerve to obturator internus

What passes through the transverse foramen?

  • The vertebral arteries originate via the first portion belonging to the subclavian artery. ...
  • Transverse process surrounds the transverse foramen on left and right sides. It also serves as a site of muscular attachments.
  • Transverse foramen of C7 vertebra contains only vertebral veins, with no arteries.

What passes through the jaw foramina?

Mandibular foramen

  • Anatomy and relations
  • Contents Inferior alveolar artery Inferior alveolar nerve Inferior alveolar vein
  • Clinical points Inferior alveolar block Accessory mandibular foramina

What pass through the jugular foraman?

  • Trauma
  • Tumor (Glomus tumors, meningioma, acoustic neuroma, metastatic CP angle tumors)
  • Inflammation

Which bone forms the foramen lacerum?

These are the elements that surround the foramen lacerum and practically contribute to its formation: sphenoid bone (anterior border), petrous temporal bone (more exactly, its apex) and the occipital bone (specifically, the basilar part).

Which structures pass at the whole length of the foramen lacerum?

In conclusion, the structures that pass at the whole length of the foramen lacerum are the meningeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery and the emissary veins. The other structures that traverse the foramen lacerum only partially include the internal carotid artery and the greater petrosal nerve.

What is the part of the foramen lacerum that passes through the pterygoid canal

However, because it is located at a close distance, the part that is found above the foramen lacerum is also known as the lacerum segment. These are the elements that pass through the foramen lacerum: venous drainage, nerve and artery of the pterygoid canal. The foramen lacerum is also transited by the greater petrosal nerve.

Is the foramen lacerum a true foramen?

Studies performed on cadavers have demonstrated that the foramen lacerum is not a true foramen. Scientists have based this affirmation on the fact that no significant structures go above the fibrous tissue that covers it. It was suggested that this is rather an extension of the lacerum portion of the carotid canal and not a foramen per say.

What is the foramen lacerum?

The disorders of the foramen lacerum affect the structure that passes through this opening. A traumatic lesion that develops in this area may affect the cranial nerves that have a role in normal deglutition or swallowing. Although its occurrence may be rare, this can lead to more complications if not addressed accordingly. Treatment would require feeding thorough a nasogastric tube while an active and early rehabilitation of swallowing is being initiated. Recovery is possible even without doing any surgical intervention [8].

What is the foramen?

The word “foramen” means an opening or orifice. There are several foramina in the skull in which arteries, veins, nerves, ligaments, and muscles pass through. The foramen lacerum is one of these openings and it allows several structures of the body to pass through it [1, 2].

What is the foramen lacerum?

The foramen lacerum is filled with connective tissue and transmits the small meningeal branches of the ascending pharyngeal artery and emissary veins from the cavernous sinus to the pterygoid venous plexus. The internal carotid artery passes along its superior surface but does not traverse it.

Where is the foramen lacerum located?

Foramen lacerum. The foramen lacerum (plural: foramina lacera) is a triangular opening located in the middle cranial fossa formed by the continuation of the petrosphenoidal and petroclival fissures. Thus, it is a gap between bones, alternatively termed the sphenopetro­clival synchondrosis, rather than a true foramen within a bone 2.

What nerve enters the pterygoid canal?

The greater petrosal nerve enters from the posterolateral aspect, joins with the deep petrosal nerve, and leaves anteriorly as the nerve of the pterygoid canal . It measures approximately 9 mm in length and 7 mm in breadth.

Where is the foramen located?

Foramina and fissures of the skull. In this article we will be focusing on the foramina and fissures located on the inside and floor, or base, of the skull. In a nutshell, a foramen means a hole that can allow various structures to pass through them, ranging from nerves all the way to vessels.

What is the meaning of the foramen?

Definitions. The word foramen comes from the Latin word meaning “hole. ”. Essentially, all of the foramen (singular), or the foramina (plural of foramen), in the skull are holes. They are passageways through the bones of the skull that allow different structures of the nervous and circulatory system to enter and exit the skull.

What is the difference between the foramen ovale and superior orbital fissure?

The foramen ovale is smaller and round in shape whereas the superior orbital fissure is quite long and narrow in comparison. Also considered to be types of holes in the skull are structures with canal, hiatus, or meatus in their name. Next up, polish your knowledge on skull bone anatomy.

How to learn the foramina and fissures of the skull?

When learning the foramina and fissures of the skull, or anything in anatomy, it is often best to learn them in groups. One way to do this is to learn the foramina and fissures based on the bone in which they are located. Inside the skull however, you can divide the floor or base of the skull into three different shallow depressions known as fossae (anterior, middle, and posterior), and then learn the foramina and fissures associated with each of those.

Which nerve enters the skull through the foramen ovale?

The foramen ovale allows passage of the final division of the trigeminal nerve, the mandibular nerve (CNV3). Not surprisingly perhaps, the mandibular nerve enters the skull through the foramen ovale bringing sensory information from the face and skin that overlies the mandible, or lower jaw bone.

Where do the holes in the skull start?

In addition, many of the foramina and fissures allow the passage of cranial nerves into or out of the skull, and so it can be helpful to learn the holes starting at the anterior of the skull and moving posteriorly.

Where is the superior orbital fissure located?

As mentioned earlier, a fissure is usually located between two structures, and in this case, the superior orbital fissure is located between the lesser and greater wings of the sphenoid. Superior to the fissure in the orbit is the previously mentioned optic canal.

image

Overview

Function

The foramen lacerum transmits many structures, including:
• the artery of the pterygoid canal.
• the recurrent artery of the foramen lacerum, which supplies the internal carotid plexus.
• the nerve of pterygoid canal.

Structure

The foramen lacerum (Latin: lacerated piercing) is a triangular hole in the base of skull. It is located between 3 bones:
• the sphenoid bone, forming the anterior border.
• the apex of petrous part of the temporal bone, forming the posterolateral border.
• the basilar part of occipital bone, forming the posteromedial border.

Clinical significance

The foramen lacerum has been described as a portal of entry into the cranium for tumours, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, juvenile angiofibroma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and lymphoma.

History

The first recorded mention of the foramen lacerum was by anatomist Wenzel Gruber in 1869. Study of the foramen has been neglected for many years because of the small role it plays in intracranial surgery.

Additional images

• Foramen lacerum

External links

• Anatomy figure: 22:5b-10 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Internal view of skull."
• Photo of model at Waynesburg College skeleton/foramenlacerum
• cranialnerves at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (VII)

Definition

Image
Foramen lacerum is a hole that is found at the base of the skull, with a characteristic triangular shape. These are the elements that surround the foramen lacerum and practically contribute to its formation: sphenoid bone (anterior border), petrous temporal bone (more exactly, its apex) and the occipital bone (specificall…
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Function of Foramen lacerum

  • The internal carotid artery appears at a superior point from the foramen lacerum, after having passed from the carotid canal into the base of the skull. Even though it exists the carotid canal, the internal carotid artery is not going to pass through the foramen lacerum. However, because it is located at a close distance, the part that is found above the foramen lacerum is also known a…
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Pictures

  • Foramen Lacerum Picture 1: Floor of the cranial cavity showing various parts including the Foramen lacerum, Optic foramen, Foramen rotundum, Foramen ovale, Internal auditory meatus, Jugular foramen, Foramen magnum, Occipital bone, Parietal bone, Petrous portion of temporal bone, Sella turcica, Temporal bone, Sphenoid bone, Frontal bone, Cribriform plate (Ethmoid bone…
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Foramen lacerum Syndrome

  • This condition is actually represented by the aneurysm of the internal carotid artery. A congenital condition, it generally involves the intradural portion of the respective artery. Among the symptoms that patients present, there are: inflammation of the meninges, orbital headache and migraines.
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