The foramen lacerum () is a triangular hole in the base of the skull. It is located between the sphenoid bone, the apex of the petrous part of the temporal bone, and the basilar part of the occipital bone.
Structure The foramen lacerum () is a triangular hole in the base of skull. It is located between 3 bones:
sphenoid bone (forming the anterior border)
apex of petrous part of temporal bone (forming the posterolateral border) basilar part of occipital bone (forming the posteromedial border)
It is the junction point of 3 sutures of the skull:
petroclival (petrooccipital) suture sphenopetrosal suture sphenooccipital suture
Contents Structures passing through the foramen lacerum include:
greater petrosal nerve and deep petrosal nerve which merge within the foramen to form the nerve of the pterygoid canal nerve of the pterygoid canal artery of the pterygoid canal recurrent artery of the foramen lacerum (supplies the internal carotid plexus) emissary veins (connecting extracranial pterygoid plexus with the intracranial cavernous sinus) one of the terminal branches of the ascending pharyngeal artery
Relations It is situated anteromedially to the carotid canal.
The internal carotid artery passes from the carotid canal in the base of the skull, emerging and coursing superior to foramen lacerum as it exits the carotid canal; the internal carotid artery does not travel through foramen lacerum (the segment of the internal carotid artery that travels superior to the foramen lacerum is called the lacerum segment).
Development The foramen lacerum fills with cartilage after birth.
Clinical significance The foramen lacerum has been described as a portal of entry into the cranium for tumours, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, juvenile angiofibroma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, melanoma, and lymphoma.
History The first recorded mention of the foramen lacerum was by anatomist Wenzel Gruber in 1869. Study of the foramen has been neglected for many years because of the small role it plays in intracranial surgery.
Additional images
References
External links - "Internal view of skull." Photo of model at Waynesburg College skeleton/foramenlacerum ()
Image at ucsd.edu