Foramen rotundum
Foramen rotundum
- Latin synonym: Canalis rotundus
- Synonym: Round foramen
Definition
The foramen rotundum is a small opening situated in the anteromedial part of the greater wing of sphenoid bone. It serves as a bony passage connecting the middle cranial fossa with the pterygopalatine fossa. Because it leads into the pterygopalatine fossa, the foramen rotundum cannot be seen from the base of the skull.
The maxillary nerve, as it leaves the trigeminal ganglion, travels through the foramen rotundum, exiting the cranial cavity and entering the pterygopalatine fossa.
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Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2024 IMAIOS.
Lipsett BJ, Alsayouri K. Anatomy, Head and Neck, Skull Foramen. [Updated 2023 Apr 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546621/
Standring, S. (2016). ‘Chapter 32: Infratemporal and pterygopalatine fossae and temporomandibular joint’ in Gray’s anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice. (41st ed.) New York NY: Elsevier, pp. 536.
![e-Anatomy - Cranial nerves - Illustrations - Maxillary nerve; Maxillary division [Vb; V2] - Foramen rotundum](https://www.imaios.com/i/s/imaios-images/web/images/eanatomy/modules/nerfs-craniens-anatomie/images/v2/07a5dbcf37fec024b797c9824a0f7e6f1f2fa09baf22a0d1c3b98fb68aa8975e?w=200&mark-x=0&mark-y=0&mark64=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW1haW9zLmNvbS9pL3MvaW1haW9zLWltYWdlcy90cmEucG5nP3c9MjAwJmg9MjA0JmZpdD1zY2FsZSZtYXJrLXg9NzcuNjcmbWFyay15PTYzLjM2Jm1hcms2ND1hSFIwY0hNNkx5OTNkM2N1YVcxaGFXOXpMbU52YlM5cEwzTXZhVzFoYVc5ekxXbHRZV2RsY3k5d2FXNHVjRzVu "e-Anatomy - Cranial nerves - Illustrations - Maxillary nerve; Maxillary division [Vb; V2] - Foramen rotundum")
