Foramen ovale
Encyclopedia
There are multiple structures in the human body with the name foramen ovale (plural: foramina ovalia; Latin
for "oval hole"):
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "oval hole"):
- In the fetal heart, the foramen ovale (heart)Foramen ovale (heart)In the fetal heart, the foramen ovale , also ostium secundum of Born or falx septi, allows blood to enter the left atrium from the right atrium. It is one of two fetal cardiac shunts, the other being the ductus arteriosus...
is a shunt from the right atrium to left atrium. - At the base of the skull, the foramen ovale (skull)Foramen ovale (skull)At the base of the skull the foramen ovale is one of the larger of the several holes that transmit nerves through the skull. The foramen ovale is situated in the posterior part of the sphenoid bone, posterolateral to the foramen rotundum.-Contents:Several nerves, arteries and veins pass through...
is one of the larger of the several holes (the foramina) that transmit nerves through the skull.