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 following structures pass through the lesser sciatic foramen:
Mandibular foramen
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).
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.
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.
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.
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].
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].
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
• Foramen lacerum
• 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)