Sphenoidal emissary foramen

Anterior view of the sphenoid bone, showing the sphenoidal emissary foramen (not labeled, but visible as a small hole near the center of the bone)

The Sphenoidal Emissary Foramen is a small opening in the sphenoid bone of the human skull. It is also known as the foramen of Vesalius, named after the 16th-century anatomist Andreas Vesalius. This foramen is not always present and varies in size when it does occur. It is of clinical significance as it can serve as a pathway for infections to spread from the nasal cavity to the cranial cavity.

Anatomy

The sphenoidal emissary foramen is located in the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, near the foramen ovale. It is a small, irregular opening that may be present on one or both sides of the sphenoid bone. The foramen is often associated with the pterygoid canal and may be connected to it.

Clinical Significance

The sphenoidal emissary foramen is a potential pathway for the spread of infections from the nasal cavity to the cranial cavity. This can occur in cases of sinusitis, where the infection can spread through the foramen and cause meningitis or brain abscess.

History

The sphenoidal emissary foramen is named after the Belgian anatomist Andreas Vesalius, who first described it in his seminal work De humani corporis fabrica in 1543. However, the foramen is not always present and its size and exact location can vary greatly between individuals.

See Also

• Sphenoid bone
• Foramen ovale (skull)
• Pterygoid canal
• Andreas Vesalius