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)
- sphenopetrosal suture
- 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.
Development
The foramen lacerum fills with cartilage after birth.
History
The first recorded mention of the foramen lacerum was by anatomist Wenzel Gruber in 1869.