Foramen of vesalius

Foramen of Vesalius is an anatomical feature located in the human skull. It is a small, occasionally found opening situated anteromedial to the foramen ovale in the sphenoid bone. Named after the renowned anatomist Andreas Vesalius, this foramen is of clinical and anatomical interest due to its involvement in the venous drainage of the cavernous sinus and its variability among individuals.

Anatomy

The foramen of Vesalius is not consistently present in all individuals. When it does occur, it is located in the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, close to the base of the skull. It serves as a passageway for a small vein, the emissary sphenoidal vein, which connects the pterygoid plexus with the cavernous sinus. This connection is significant for the venous drainage of the deep facial veins into the intracranial venous system.

Clinical Significance

The presence of the foramen of Vesalius can have implications in neurosurgery and radiology. Understanding its location and variability is important during surgical interventions in the region to avoid vascular injury. Additionally, in radiological examinations, particularly in computed tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the skull base, the identification of this foramen can help in the detailed mapping of venous anatomy and in the diagnosis of vascular anomalies or pathologies.

Variability

The occurrence and size of the foramen of Vesalius can vary significantly among individuals. Studies have shown that it is not present in all skulls, and when present, its size can range from very small to large enough to be of clinical significance. This variability can affect surgical approaches to the skull base and is a reminder of the importance of individual anatomical variation in medical practice.

Historical Aspect

The foramen was named after Andreas Vesalius, a 16th-century anatomist and physician, known for his contributions to the understanding of human anatomy. Vesalius was one of the first to describe this anatomical feature, highlighting its significance in the venous drainage system of the skull.

See Also

• Foramen ovale (skull)
• Sphenoid bone
• Cavernous sinus
• Pterygoid plexus

---

Translate: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, தமிழ், తెలుగు, Urdu, ಕನ್ನಡ, Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, বাংলা
European español, Deutsch, français, Greek, português do Brasil, polski, română, русский, Nederlands, norsk, svenska, suomi, Italian
Middle Eastern & African عربى, Turkish, Persian, Hebrew, Afrikaans, isiZulu, Kiswahili,
Other Bulgarian, Hungarian, Czech, Swedish, മലയാളം, मराठी, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ, ગુજરાતી, Portuguese, Ukrainian