Foramen lacerum

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:

It is the junction point of 3 sutures of the skull:

petroclival suture
sphenopetrosal suture
sphenooccipital suture

Contents

Structures passing through the foramen lacerum include:

greater petrosal nerve and deep petrosal nerve which merge within the foramen to form the nerve of the pterygoid canal
nerve of the pterygoid canal
artery of the pterygoid canal
recurrent artery of the foramen lacerum
emissary veins
one of the terminal branches of the ascending pharyngeal artery

Relations

It is situated anteromedially to the carotid canal.
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.

Development

The foramen lacerum fills with cartilage after birth.

Clinical significance

The foramen lacerum has been described as a portal of entry into the cranium for tumours, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, juvenile angiofibroma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, melanoma, and lymphoma.

History

The first recorded mention of the foramen lacerum was by anatomist Wenzel Gruber in 1869. Study of the foramen has been neglected for many years because of the small role it plays in intracranial surgery.