A cross section of the skull shows foramina, which are numerous canals passing through the bones of the skull. Through these channels, blood vessels and 24 cranial nerves (12 on each side) enter and exit the intracranial cavity.

Other smaller channels connect the external veins of the skull with the internal ones. They are called connecting, or drainage, veins. Through such channels, an infection that originates outside the skull can get inside it and turn into serious inflammation.

The most important cranial foramina are:

foramen magnum, connects the spinal cord with its trunk;
a torn hole located between the petrous part of the temporal bone and the sphenoid bone;
foramen ovale through which the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve passes;
foramen spinosum, allows the median artery of the meninges to penetrate the cranial cavity;
stylomastoid foramen - canal of the seventh cranial nerve;
jugular foramen, which provides access to the sigmoid and inferior petrosal sinuses;
the canal of the carotid artery through which the artery and its associated nerve fibers pass.

Ragged opening of the skull. The base of the skull and its openings in the diagrams

The inner surface of the base of the skull, basis cranii interna, is divided into three fossae, of which the cerebrum is located in the anterior and middle, and the cerebellum in the posterior. The border between the anterior and middle fossae is the posterior edges of the small wings of the sphenoid bone, and between the middle and posterior fossae is the upper edge of the pyramids of the temporal bones.

The anterior cranial fossa, fossa cranii anterior, is formed by the orbital parts of the frontal bone, the ethmoidal plate of the ethmoid bone lying in the recess, the small wings and part of the body of the sphenoid bone. The frontal lobes of the cerebral hemispheres are located in the anterior cranial fossa. On the sides of the crista galli there are laminae cribrosae, through which the olfactory nerves pass, nn. olfactorii (I pair) from the nasal cavity and a. ethmoidalis anterior (from a. ophthalmica) accompanied by the vein and nerve of the same name (from the first branch of the trigeminal nerve).

The middle cranial fossa, fossa cranii media, is deeper than the anterior one. It consists of a middle part, formed by the upper surface of the body of the sphenoid bone (the area of the sella turcica), and two lateral ones. They are formed by the large wings of the sphenoid bone, the anterior surfaces of the pyramids and partly by the scales of the temporal bones. The central part of the middle fossa is occupied by the pituitary gland, and the lateral parts by the temporal lobes of the hemispheres. Cleredi from the sella turcica, in the sulcus chiasmatis, is the optic chiasm, chiasma opticum. On the sides of the sella turcica lie the most important sinuses of the dura mater in practical terms - cavernous, sinus cavernosus, into which the superior and inferior ophthalmic veins flow.

The middle cranial fossa communicates with the orbit through the optic canal, canalis opticus, and the superior orbital fissure, fissura orbitalis superior. The optic nerve passes through the canal, n. opticus (II pair), and ophthalmic artery, a. ophthalmica (from the internal carotid artery), and through the gap - the oculomotor nerve, n. oculomotorius (III pair), trochlear, n. trochlearis (IV pair), abducens, n. abducens (VI pair) and ophthalmic, n. ophthalmicus, nerves and ophthalmic veins.

The middle cranial fossa communicates through the round foramen, foramen rotundum, where the maxillary nerve passes, n. maxillaris (II branch of the trigeminal nerve), with the pterygopalatine fossa. It is connected to the infratemporal fossa through the oval foramen, foramen ovale, where the mandibular nerve passes, n. mandibularis (III branch of the trigeminal nerve), and the spinous, foramen spinosum, where the middle meningeal artery passes, a. meningea media. At the top of the pyramid there is an irregularly shaped hole - foramen lacerum, in the area of which there is an internal opening of the carotid canal, from where the internal carotid artery enters the cranial cavity, a. carotis interna.

The posterior cranial fossa, fossa cranii posterior, is the deepest and is separated from the middle by the upper edges of the pyramids and the back of the sella turcica. It is formed by almost the entire occipital bone, part of the body of the sphenoid bone, the posterior surfaces of the pyramids and mastoid parts of the temporal bones, as well as the posterior lower corners of the parietal bones.

In the center of the posterior cranial fossa is the foramen magnum, in front of it is the Blumenbach slope, clivus. On the posterior surface of each of the pyramids lies the internal auditory opening, poms acusticus internus; through it pass the facial, n. facialis (VII pair), intermediate, n. intermedins, and vestibulocochlear, n. vestibulocochlearis (VIII pair), nerves.

Between the pyramids of the temporal bones and the lateral parts of the occipital bones there are jugular foramina, foramina jugularia, through which the glossopharyngeal, n. glossopharyngeus (IX pair), wandering, n. vagus (X pair), and accessory, n. accessorius (XI pair), nerves, as well as the internal jugular vein, v. jugularis interna. The central part of the posterior cranial fossa is occupied by the foramen magnum, foramen occipitale magnum, through which the medulla oblongata with its membranes and the vertebral arteries, aa, pass. vertebrales. In the lateral parts of the occipital bone there are canals of the hypoglossal nerves, canalis n. hypoglossi (XII pair). In the area of the middle and posterior cranial fossae, the grooves of the sinuses of the dura mater are especially well represented.

V is located in or near the sigmoid sulcus. emissaria mastoidea, connecting the occipital vein and the veins of the external base of the skull with the sigmoid sinus.

We all remember how we learned about the openings of the skull in anatomy class - once you learn a couple of holes, all the rest are forgotten. And this feeling that they are scattered like stars in the anatomical sky. But just as the stars in the sky are connected into constellations, the cunning French combined the holes on the inner base of the skull into several “constellations”. In this case, you can try to remember them.

Rice. base of the skull.

F – (yellow);
lce – perforated plate of the ethmoid bone. Makes up the roof of the nasal cavity;
ga – greater wing of the sphenoid bone;
pa – lesser wing of the sphenoid bone;
S – body of the sphenoid bone;
fm – foramen magnum, which opens the entrance to the spinal canal;
T – ;
o – (green color).

Superior orbital fissure

Rice. skull base

pa – lesser wing of the sphenoid bone (pink)
ga – greater wing of the sphenoid bone (yellow)

fos – superior orbital fissure.

On both sides of the body of the sphenoid bone there are its large wings (ga), pierced with holes. Anterior and lateral to the body lie the small wings (pa) of the sphenoid bone.

Between the greater wing (ga) and the lesser wing (pa) there remains a gap - the superior orbital fissure (fos), which has the shape of a drop, wider in the medial part. Superior orbital

Rice. skull base
pa – lesser wing of the sphenoid bone,
ga – greater wing of the sphenoid bone,
S – body of the sphenoid bone,
fc – carotid foramen,
co – optic nerve canal,
R – rocky pyramid,
The temporal bone is marked in purple.

Two more holes at the base of the skull are in contact with the lateral angles of the body of the sphenoid bone (S). The optic nerve canal (co) opens into the upper part of the orbit. The optic nerve passes through it. The carotid foramen (fc) is located at the junction of the body of the sphenoid wing with the apex of the petrous pyramid (R) and encloses the carotid artery.

Foramina of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone

On the horizontal section of the greater wing (a") of the sphenoid bone there are 6 holes. They are located approximately on the line of a conventional triangle. This is triangle ABC, the base of which (bc) lies on the border (suture) of the greater wing and the petrous pyramid of the temporal bone. Then in the area of the vertices This triangle will have 3 holes:
a – round foramen (foramen rond), b – foramen spinosum (foramen épineux), c – internal carotid foramen.

a’ – vertical portion of the large wing of the sphenoid bone,

a’’ – horizontal portion of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone.

Rice. Foramina of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone.
a – round hole (foramen rond),
b – foramen spinosum (foramen épineux),
c – internal carotid foramen,

There is also a hole on each side of our triangle ABC:

d – oval foramen, foramen ovale,

e – torn hole, foramen lacerum,

F – Vidian canal opening.

Posterior cranial fossa

Rice. openings of the posterior cranial fossa.
r’ – front surface of the cairn,
r’’ – back surface of the cairn,
pai – internal auditory opening (pore acoustique interne)
dp – jugular foramen
h – canal of the hypoglossal nerve

Three pairs of holes are located approximately on a straight line AA":
dp - jugular foramen
c – anterior condylar foramen (anterior condyloid foramen)
h – canal of the hypoglossal nerve

A’ – vertical portion of the large wing of the sphenoid bone,
a’’ – horizontal portion of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone,
e – ethmoid bone (perforated plate),

Ragged hole

Ragged hole- an irregular triangular hole at the base of the skull, located at the junction of the sphenoid, temporal and occipital bones.

Content

The internal carotid artery emerges from the carotid canal superiorly to the base of the skull.

The artery of the pterygoid canal, the nerve of the pterygoid canal, and several small drainage veins also pass through the foramen lacerum.

The nerve of the pterygoid canal consists of the deep petrosal and greater petrosal nerves, the latter of which contains sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers to the blood vessels, mucous membranes, salivary and lacrimal glands.

Moreover, one of the terminal branches of the ascending pharyngeal artery (from the external carotid artery) passes through the foramen lacerum.

Some emissary veins make their way through the foramen lacerum. They connect the extracranial pterygoid plexus to the intracranial cavernous sinus and are a possible route of infection and also allow nasopharyngeal carcinoma to reach the cavernous sinus and affect the cranial nerves.

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See what a “Ragged Hole” is in other dictionaries:

- (foramen lacerum, PNA BNA, JNA) an irregularly shaped opening at the base of the skull between the apex of the pyramid and the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, closed by a plate of fibrocartilage... Large medical dictionary

Bones of the head (skull) - … Atlas of Human Anatomy

General view of the skull- The internal base of the skull (basis cranii interna) is a support for the base of the brain, therefore it has a characteristic relief. It contains three cranial fossae. The anterior cranial fossa is formed by the orbital parts of the frontal bone, small wings... ... Atlas of Human Anatomy

Inner base of the skull- (basis cranii interna) Internal base of the skull (basis cranii i ... Atlas of Human Anatomy

Base of the skull- The base of the skull is that part of the skull that is located below the line running in front at the level of the infraorbital margin and further posteriorly along the zygomatic process of the frontal bone, the sphenoid zygomatic suture, the infratemporal crest of the greater wing of the sphenoid... ... Atlas of Human Anatomy

CAROTIS ARTERIA- CAROTIS ARTERIA. Contents: Anatomy and embryology............382 Pathological anatomy................4J9 Clinic................. ...410 Anatomy. Common carotid artery (a. ca rotis communis) (Fig. 1 and 2) with its external and internal branches... ... Great Medical Encyclopedia

Temporal bone- The temporal bone, os temporale, steam room, participates in the formation of the base of the skull and the lateral wall of its vault. It contains the organ of hearing and balance. It articulates with the lower jaw and is the support of the masticatory apparatus. On the outer surface... Atlas of Human Anatomy

External base of the skull- (basis cranii extema) The outer base of the skull (basis cranii extema). View from below. 1 palatine process of the maxilla; 2 incisal hole; 3 median palatal suture; 4 transverse palatal suture; 5 choana; 6 inferior orbital fissure; 7 zygomatic arch; 8... ... Atlas of Human Anatomy

Sphenoid bone- The sphenoid bone, os sphenoidale, unpaired, forms the central section of the base of the skull. The middle part of the sphenoid bone, the body, corpus, is cubic in shape and has six surfaces. On the upper surface, facing the cranial cavity, there is... ... Atlas of Human Anatomy

External base of the skull (basis cranii extema)- View from below. palatine process of the maxilla; incisive foramen; median palatal suture; transverse palatal suture; choana; inferior orbital fissure; zygomatic arch; opener wing; pterygoid fossa; lateral plate of the pterygoid process; pterygoid... ... Atlas of Human Anatomy

Holes	Through the holes pass
	arteries	veins	nerve
Anterior cranial fossa
Lattice holes	Anterior ethmoidal - branch of the ophthalmic artery	Ethmoidal (drains into the superior ophthalmic vein)	Olfactory nerves
Middle cranial fossa
Visual channel	Ophthalmic		Optic nerve
Superior orbital fissure	Anterior meningeal branch - branch of the anterior ethmoidal artery	Superior ophthalmic (empties into cavernous sinus)	Oculomotor, trochlear, abducens, ophthalmic nerves - first branch
Internal aperture of the carotid canal	Internal sleepy	Venous plexus of the carotid canal	Internal carotid (sympathetic) plexus
Round hole	-	-	Maxillary - second branch of the trigeminal nerve
Oval hole	Accessory branch of the middle meningeal artery	Venous plexus of the foramen ovale, connects the cavernous sinus and the pterygoid (venous) plexus	Mandibular - third branch of the trigeminal nerve
Foramen spinosum	Middle meningeal - branch of the maxillary artery	Middle meningeal	Meningeal branch of the maxillary nerve
Cleft of the greater petrosal nerve canal (foramen of the facial nerve canal)	Petrosal branch - branch of the middle meningeal artery	Auditory (empties into the superior petrosal sinus)	Greater petrosal - branch of the facial (intermediate) nerve
Cleft of the lesser petrosal nerve canal (superior aperture of the tympanic tubule)	Superior tympanic - branch of the middle meningeal artery	–	Lesser petrosal - branch of the tympanic nerve (from the glossopharyngeal)
Posterior cranial fossa
Internal auditory canal	Labyrinthine artery - branch of the basilar artery	Veins of the labyrinth (drain into the inferior petrosal sinus)	Facial and vestibulocochlear
Aperture of the vestibular tubule	–	Endolymphatic duct and pouch	-
Cochlear tubule aperture		Perilymphatic duct (flows into the superior bulb of the internal jugular vein), vein of the tubule of the same name
Mastoid	Meningeal branch of the occipital artery	Mastoid emissary (connects the sigmoid sinus and occipital vein)
Jugular	Posterior meningeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery	Internal jugular	Glossopharyngeal, vagus, accessory nerves, meningeal branch of the abdominal nerve
Big	Vertebrates, anterior and posterior spinal cords	Basilar venous plexus	Medulla oblongata
Sublingual canal	–	Veins of the hypoglossal canal drain into the internal jugular vein	Hypoglossal nerve
Condylar canal	–	Condylar emissary (connects the sigmoid sinus with the vertebral venous plexus)

The border between the anterior and middle fossae is

posterior edges of the lesser wings of the sphenoid bone,

between the middle and back is the upper edge of the pyramids of the temporal bones.

The anterior cranial fossa, fossa cranii anterior, is formed

1. orbital part of the frontal bone,

2. cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone and

3. small wings wedge-shaped.

The middle cranial fossa, fossa cranii media, lies deeper than the anterior one.

The middle part of the fossa is formed by the sella turcica.

The lateral parts include the large wings of the sphenoid bone, pars squamosa and the anterior surface of the pyramids of the temporal bones.

Middle fossa openings:

1. canalis opticus,

2. fissura orbitalis superior,

3. foramen rotundum,

4.foramen ovale,

5. foramen spinosum,

6. foramen lacerum.

The posterior cranial fossa, fossa cranii posterior, is the deepest and most voluminous.

It includes:

1. occipital bone,

2. posterior parts of the body of the sphenoid bone;

3. pars petrosa of the temporal bone and

4. inferior posterior corner of the parietal bone.

Openings of the posterior cranial fossa:

1. foramen magnum,

2. canalis hypoglossalis,

3. foramen jugulare,

4. canalis condylaris (sometimes absent),

5. foramen mastoideum (more permanent),

6. porus acusticus internus (on the back surface of the pyramid).

The internal auditory foramen (right and left) opens into the posterior cranial fossa on each side, leading into the internal auditory canal, in the depths of which the facial canal for the facial nerve (VII pair) originates. The vestibulocochlear nerve emerges from the internal auditory opening (VIII
pair).
Two more paired large formations: the jugular foramen, through which the glossopharyngeal (IX pair), vagus (X pair) and accessory (XI pair) nerves pass, and the hypoglossal canal for the nerve of the same name (XII pair)

Medicine is impossible without knowledge of human anatomy, the structure of its bones and skull. In turn, the structural features of the skull are studied by analyzing its functions. The knowledge that we are able to obtain today thanks to medical atlases created many years ago allows doctors to diagnose pathologies of the development of bones, veins and blood vessels of the brain. This is especially relevant for modern traumatologists and neurosurgeons. The knowledge gained helps in making an accurate diagnosis, performing complex operations and prescribing appropriate treatment.

The human skull is the inert base of the head, which consists of twenty-three bones. It has many channels and openings through which nerves, arteries and vessels pass. Among them, the so-called one is distinguished, which is located on one of the anatomically complex bones of the skull - the sphenoid bone. It plays an important role in the life of the body.

Historical background

This hole first became known in the eighteenth century thanks to Jacob Winslow. It received its name “foramen magnum of Winslow” due to its relationship to the vertebra of the sphenoid bone, in particular its greater wing. Literally translated from Latin foramen spinosum means “thorny hole,” but in medicine the definition of “torn hole” is used.

Location

The middle cranial fossa has many openings through which blood vessels and nerves pass. Among them we can highlight what is located in the lower part of the skull and wedge-shaped bones. It is located transversely in front of the spine. The middle meningeal artery and vein, as well as the meningeal branch of the nerve of the lower jaw, pass through this gap.

Pathology

The lacerated hole that passes through the sphenoid bone can vary in size. In some cases, there is no gap, so the middle meningeal artery passes through the foramen ovale into the cranial cavity. This can occur in about half of the world's population. Moreover, in 1% of people the hole can be duplicated, as well as the artery that passes through it. Also, the torn gap can be at the top of the spinous process or along its surface.

Development

In newborn children, the torn hole has a length of 2.2 mm and a width of 1 mm, in an adult it is 2.5 mm and 2.1 mm, respectively. The diameter of the hole in the gap is on average about 2.6 centimeters in an adult. An ideal round formation was observed in childhood, from eight months to seven years. In numerous studies of skulls, most of the holes were round in shape. In animals, particularly great apes, the lacerated foramen is not located in the sphenoid bone, but in the temporal bone, in some cases it is completely absent. The passage of the above arteries and nerves through the ragged gap allows the human back to rotate.

Medical significance

In neurosurgical practice, access to certain structures of the cranial cavity is often necessary, so there is a need to focus on standard points. This hole is used as a landmark in neurosurgery, since it has a close relationship with other holes. The lacerated foramen allows you to see the location of the oval and round fissures, the nerve of the lower jaw, and the trigeminal ganglion. This is of great importance during surgery for hemostasis.

What passes through the lacerated opening of the skull

We already know that the middle meningeal artery (the meninges), a branch of the mandibular nerve, passes through this hole. Through the membrane (fibrous cartilage) that closes this opening pass the facial nerves, the muscle that tensions the eardrum, and the nerve that innervates it. Also here pass small veins that connect the facial sinus with the external veins, the internal carotid artery, one of the branches of the pharyngeal artery, some of the emissary veins that connect the wing-shaped plexus with the cavernous sinus. They represent a possible route for infection to spread to the brain, and also allow nasopharyngeal cancer to metastasize to the cavernous sinus, affecting the cranial nerves.

Thus, the torn gap serves as a guide for neurosurgeons in performing surgical interventions. We already know, thanks to medical atlases that were created many years ago. It is located near the top of the pyramid of the temporal bone and is covered with cartilage.

In medicine, the study of the anatomy of the human skull plays an important role. Thanks to the knowledge gained, specialists can diagnose, treat and perform surgical interventions for various diseases and injuries. For the first time they started talking about a torn hole in the eighteenth century. To date, this discovery has helped save the lives of many people.