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Foramen lacerum

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Latin
  
Foramen lacerum

TA
  
A02.1.00.055

Dorlands /Elsevier
  
f_12/12373219

FMA
  
54809

Foramen lacerum

The foramen lacerum (Latin for lacerated piercing) is a triangular hole in the base of the skull located between the sphenoid, apex of petrous temporal and basilar part of occipital.

Contents

Structure

The foramen lacerum is a foramen situated anteromedial to the carotid canal.

Development

The foramen lacerum fills with cartilage after birth.

Function

The artery of pterygoid canal, the nerve of pterygoid canal and some venous drainage pass through the foramen lacerum.

  • In the foramen lacerum the greater petrosal nerve joins with the deep petrosal nerve to form the nerve of the pterygoid canal. The deep petrosal nerve carries sympathetic and the greater petrosal nerve carries parasympathetic fibers of the autonomic nervous system to blood vessels, mucous membranes, salivary glands, and lacrimal glands.
  • Furthermore, one of the terminal branches of the ascending pharyngeal artery (itself a branch of the external carotid artery) passes through the foramen lacerum. The ascending pharyngeal artery is one of three possible "meningeal branches" of this vessel.
  • Some emissary veins pass through the foramen lacerum. These connect the extracranial pterygoid plexus with the intracranial cavernous sinus and present an unopposed route for infection.

    • 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 above foramen lacerum is called the lacerum segment.

    Clinical relevance

    The Foramen lacerum is a potential route for nasopharyngeal carcinoma to gain access to the cavernous sinus and affect cranial nerves.

    References

    Foramen lacerum Wikipedia
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