Foramen ovale (skull)
| Foramen ovale of sphenoid bone | |
|---|---|
skeletal | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | foramen ovale ossis sphenoidalis |
| TA98 | A02.1.05.036 |
| TA2 | 622 |
| FMA | 53155 |
| Anatomical terms of bone | |
The foramen ovale (Latin: oval window) is a hole in the posterior part of the
Structure
The
Contents
The following structures pass through foramen ovale:
- mandibular nerve (CN V3) (a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V))[1]
- accessory meningeal artery[1]
- lesser petrosal nerve (a branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve)[1][2]
- an
- (occasionally) meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve[3]: 364, 496
Variation
In a study conducted on 100 skulls, the foramen ovale was divided into 2 or 3 components in 4.5% of the cases. The borders of the foramen in some skulls were also irregular and rough. This may suggest, based on radiological images, the presence of morbid changes, which might be the sole anatomical variation in the foramina ovalia of humans.[4]
In newborn, the foramen ovale is about 3.85 mm and in the adults about 7.2 mm in length. The average maximal length is about 7.48 mm and its average minimal length is 4.17 mm in the adult. The width extends from 1.81 mm in the newborn to 3.7 mm in adults.[5][6]
Development
Similar to other foramina, the foramen ovale differs in shape and size throughout life. In a study using over 350 skulls, the earliest perfect ring-shaped formation of the foramen ovale was observed in the 7th month of fetal life, and the latest in 3 years after birth.[5]
Clinical significance
The foramen ovale is used as the entry point into the skull when conducting a Percutaneous Rhizotomy using either radio-frequency ablation, balloon compression or glycerol injection. These are performed to treat trigeminal neuralgia. In the procedure, the electrode is introduced through the cheek of an anesthetized patient and radiologically guided into the foramen ovale, with the intention of partially or fully ablating one or more of the divisions (typically the Mandibular) to relieve pain.[7]
This entry point is also used to surgically place local electrodes directly on the surface of the mesial temporal lobe, in order to observe neural activity of patients with suspected focal epilepsy.[8]
History
Etymology
The name "foramen ovale" comes from the Latin "oval hole / window".
See also
- Foramina of the skull
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 150 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ a b c d e Ray, Biswabina; Gupta, Nirupma; Ghose, Supriya (2005). "Anatomic variations of foramen ovale" (PDF). Kathmandu University Medical Journal. 3 (9): 64–68.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8089-2306-0.
- ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
- PMID 16228954.
- ^ PMID 3610040.
- PMID 6486466.
- ^ Tew, John. "Percutaneous stereotactic rhizotomy (PSR) for facial pain". Mayfield Brain & Spine. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
- PMID 16922874.
External links
- Anatomy photo:22:os-0904 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- cranialnerves at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (IX)
- "Anatomy diagram: 34257.000-1". Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator. Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2014-01-01.
- Adult skull as seen from beneath at uiuc.edu
