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foramen

foramen

3 9.6
An opening in a bone that lets a nerve or blood vessel pass through
  • noun
  • /fəˈreɪmən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : foramen
  • The spinal nerves exit from the spinal cord and extend laterally through the vertebral foramen to innervate the body.
  • jugular foramen
  • stylomastoid foramen
  • sphenopalatine foramen

Examples

  • Only a small portion of the tumor was left within the jugular foramen.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The risk of neurovascular damage when treating tumors of the jugular foramen must be discussed preoperatively with patients.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The blood supply from the incisive foramen should also remain intact.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Height of foramen is expressed as a fraction of the jaw depth below the last tooth.

    Academic text (2001)
  • His heart was described as having an enlarged opening of the foramen ovale.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The tumor mass extending into the foramen at C2-C6 levels was removed microsurgically in the sitting position.

    Academic text (2007)
  • An echo contrast study was also performed in order to exclude patent foramen ovale.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The tumor was slowly pulled down with a retractor to expose the sphenopalatine foramen.

    Academic text (2006)
  • If the sphenopalatine artery was evident through the sphenopalatine foramen, it was cauterized.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The spinal nerves exit from the spinal cord and extend laterally through the foramen to innervate the body.

Synonyms

hole
vsforamen
1.0

An opening in something, often made by people or nature

is the anatomical term for natural openings carrying nerves or vessels
orifice
vsforamen
  • Specialized
24 7.5

An opening that leads into a space inside the body or a pipe

is focused on openings that permit nerves or vessels to pass
hiatus
vsforamen
  • Specialized
1 8.2

An opening in bone or membrane for a tube to pass through

is more specifically used for openings that let nerves or vessels pass

Compounds

foramen magnum
  • Specialized
1 9.3

A large hole at the base of the skull that the spinal cord passes through

foramen of Monro
  • Specialized
9.9

A small passage in the brain that lets fluid move from each side to the middle

Monro's foramen
  • Specialized
9.9

A small opening in the brain that lets spinal fluid flow from the side ventricles to the middle ventricle

9.2

A small opening in the brain that lets fluid flow between the side ventricles and the third ventricle

How Big

entrance
468 1.0
porta
  • Specialized
10 9.9
opening
179 1.0
aperture
4 7.0
foramen
  • Specialized
3 9.6

Surface Forms

foramen singular
foramina plural

Etymology

Foramen comes from the Latin foramen meaning 'an opening' and the verb forare meaning 'to bore' or 'make a hole', so imagine a drill making a neat hole. So a foramen is a natural hole in a bone or other body part that lets nerves and blood vessels pass through.