List of foramina of the human body explained

This article lists foramina that occur in the human body.

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Skull

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	-		-	supraorbital foramen	2			-			foramen cecum	1	emissary veins to superior sagittal sinus from the upper part of the nose^[3]		-		anterior cranial fossa (osama)	foramina of cribriform plate	~20	-	olfactory nerve bundles (I)	-			anterior ethmoidal foramen	2			-			posterior ethmoidal foramen	2			-		-	optic canal	2		optic nerve (II)	-			superior orbital fissure	2		oculomotor nerve (III) trochlear nerve (IV) lacrimal, frontal and nasociliary branches of ophthalmic nerve (V1) abducent nerve (VI)	-			foramen rotundum	2	-	maxillary nerve (V2)	-		-	incisive foramen/canal/Stenson/Scarpa	4		Terminal part of nasopalatine nerve (V2)	-		-	greater palatine foramen	2	greater palatine artery greater palatine vein		-		-	foramen sphenopalatinum	2	sphenopalatine artery sphenopalatine vein	nasopalatine nerve rami nasales posteriores superiores (V2)	-	palatine and maxilla	-	lesser palatine foramina	4	lesser palatine arteries lesser palatine vein		-		-	inferior orbital fissure	2	inferior ophthalmic veins infraorbital artery infraorbital vein, tributary of pterygoid plexus		-		-	infraorbital foramen	2	infraorbital artery infraorbital vein, tributary of pterygoid plexus		-			foramen ovale	2		mandibular nerve (V3) lesser petrosal nerve (occasionally)	-			foramen spinosum	2		meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve (V3)	-			foramen lacerum	2		nerve of pterygoid canal through its anterior wall	-			carotid canal	2			-			internal acoustic meatus	2		facial nerve (VII), vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)	-			jugular foramen	2		glossopharyngeal nerve (IX), vagus nerve (X), accessory nerve (XI)	-			stylomastoid foramen	2		facial nerve (VII)	-			hypoglossal canal	2	-	hypoglossal nerve (XII)	-			foramen magnum	1		lowest part of medulla oblongata, three meninges, ascending spinal fibers of accessory nerve (XI)	-			condylar canal	1			-

Spine

See main article: Intervertebral foramina.

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 tooth
• Foramen ovale (heart), an opening between the venous and arterial sides of the fetal heart
• Foramen transversarium, one of a pair of openings in each cervical vertebra, in which the vertebral artery travels
• Greater sciatic foramen, a major foramen of the pelvis
• Interventricular foramen, channels connecting ventricles in the brain
• Intervertebral foramen, foramina formed between vertebrae
• Lesser sciatic foramen, an opening between the pelvis and the posterior thigh
• Obturator foramen, the opening created by the ischium and pubis bones of the pelvis
• Vertebral foramen, the foramen formed by the anterior segment (the body), and the posterior part, the vertebral arch

Notes and References

1. Anat. Rec. . July 1998 . 251 . 3 . 326–9 . Age-related size reduction of foramina in the cribriform plate . Kalmey JK1, ThewissenJG, Dluzen DE . 10.1002/(sici)1097-0185(199807)251:3<326::aid-ar7>3.3.co;2-#. 9669759 .
2. Surg Radiol Anat . Sep 2015 . 37 . 7 . 835–40 . The forgotten foramina: a study of the anterior cribriform plate . Patron V, Berkaoui J, Jankowski R, Lechapt-Zalcman E, Moreau S, Hitier M . 10.1007/s00276-015-1471-2. 25823692 . 8906446 .
3. Book: Chaurasia. BD. BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy Volume 3. 2013. CBS Publishers and Distributors PVT Ltd. New Delhi. 9788123923321. 56–57.