Foramen rotundum
Encyclopedia
The foramen rotundum is a circular hole in the sphenoid bone
that connects the middle cranial fossa
and the pterygopalatine fossa
.
, in the anterior and medial part of the sphenoid bone
.
The maxillary nerve passes through and exits the skull via the pterygopalatine fossa
and the foramen rotundum.
The mean area of the foramen/foramina rotundum is not considerable, which may suggest that it/they play(s) a minor role in the dynamics of blood circulation in the venous system of the head.
to adolescence. It achieves a perfect ring-shaped formation in the fetus after the 4th fetal month. It is mostly oval-shaped in the fetal period, and round-shaped after birth (generally speaking). After birth, the rotundum is about 2.5 mm and in 15- to 17-year olds about 3 mm in length. The average diameter of the foramen rotundum in adults is 3.55 mm. This was according to a developmental study published in The Hokkaido Journal of Medical Science on the foramen ovale
, the foramen spinosum
and the foramen rotundum, and according to a study about the postnatal enlargement of the foramina rotundum, ovale and spinosum and their topographical changes published in the Anatomischer Anzeiger.
Sphenoid bone
The sphenoid bone is an unpaired bone situated at the base of the skull in front of the temporal bone and basilar part of the occipital bone.The sphenoid bone is one of the seven bones that articulate to form the orbit...
that connects the middle cranial fossa
Middle cranial fossa
The middle fossa, deeper than the anterior cranial fossa, is narrow medially and widens laterally to the sides of the skull. It is separated from the posterior fossa by the clivus and the petrous crest....
and the pterygopalatine fossa
Pterygopalatine fossa
The pterygopalatine fossa is a fossa in the skull. It is the indented area medial to the pterygomaxillary fissure leading into the sphenopalatine foramen.-Boundaries:It has the following boundaries:...
.
Structure
The foramen rotundum is one of the several circular apertures (the foramina) located in the base of the skullBase of the skull
The base of skull is the most inferior area of the skull, composed of the endocranium and lower parts of the skull roof.-Bones:*Ethmoid bone*Sphenoid bone*Occipital bone*Frontal bone*Parietal bone*Temporal bone**Petrous portion of the temporal bone...
, in the anterior and medial part of the sphenoid bone
Sphenoid bone
The sphenoid bone is an unpaired bone situated at the base of the skull in front of the temporal bone and basilar part of the occipital bone.The sphenoid bone is one of the seven bones that articulate to form the orbit...
.
The maxillary nerve passes through and exits the skull via the pterygopalatine fossa
Pterygopalatine fossa
The pterygopalatine fossa is a fossa in the skull. It is the indented area medial to the pterygomaxillary fissure leading into the sphenopalatine foramen.-Boundaries:It has the following boundaries:...
and the foramen rotundum.
The mean area of the foramen/foramina rotundum is not considerable, which may suggest that it/they play(s) a minor role in the dynamics of blood circulation in the venous system of the head.
Morphology and morphometry
The foramen rotundum evolves in shape throughout the fetal period, and from birthBirth
Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring. The offspring is brought forth from the mother. The time of human birth is defined as the time at which the fetus comes out of the mother's womb into the world...
to adolescence. It achieves a perfect ring-shaped formation in the fetus after the 4th fetal month. It is mostly oval-shaped in the fetal period, and round-shaped after birth (generally speaking). After birth, the rotundum is about 2.5 mm and in 15- to 17-year olds about 3 mm in length. The average diameter of the foramen rotundum in adults is 3.55 mm. This was according to a developmental study published in The Hokkaido Journal of Medical Science on the foramen ovale
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...
, the foramen spinosum
Foramen spinosum
The foramen spinosum is one of several foramina located in the base of the skull, on the sphenoid bone, situated lateral to the foramen ovale, in a posterior angle.-Contents:It permits the passage of certain arteries, veins and/or other structures:...
and the foramen rotundum, and according to a study about the postnatal enlargement of the foramina rotundum, ovale and spinosum and their topographical changes published in the Anatomischer Anzeiger.
