Stylomastoid foramen
| Stylomastoid foramen | |
|---|---|
skeletal | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | foramen stylomastoideum |
| TA98 | A02.1.06.048 |
| TA2 | 684 |
| FMA | 55816 |
| Anatomical terms of bone] | |
The stylomastoid foramen is a
mastoid processes of the temporal bone of the skull. It is the termination of the facial canal, and transmits the facial nerve, and stylomastoid artery. Facial nerve inflammation in the stylomastoid foramen may cause Bell's palsy
.
Structure
The stylomastoid foramen is between the
mastoid processes of the temporal bone. The average distance between the opening of the stylomastoid foramen and the styloid process is around 0.7 mm or 0.8 mm in adults, but may decrease to around 0.2 mm during aging.[1]
The stylomastoid foramen transmits the facial nerve,[2][3] and the stylomastoid artery.[3] These 2 structures lie directly next to each other.[3]
Clinical significance
Bell's palsy can result from inflammation of the facial nerve where it leaves the skull at the stylomastoid foramen. Patients with Bell's palsy appear with facial drooping on the affected side.
Additional images
-
Facial canal -
Lateral head anatomy detail. Facial nerve dissection.
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 144 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
External links
- Anatomy figure: 22:4a-07 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- Anatomy photo:22:os-0708 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- "Anatomy diagram: 34257.000-1". Roche Lexicon – illustrated navigator. Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2014-01-01.
- lesson3 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (midearcavity)
- Diagram at patientsforum.com
