Foramen singulare


The foramen singulare ',' is a foramen in the wall of the internal auditory meatus that gives passage to' the branch of the inferior division of the vestibular nerve' that innervates the ampulla of the posterior semicircular canal.''''''

Anatomy

The foramen singulare arises from the posteroinferior part of the fundus of the internal auditory canal. At its origin, it is medial to the inferior vertibular area. The canal has a total length of about 4mm and ends at the ampulla of the posterior semicircular canal

Clinical significance

It is an important surgical landmark during a retrosigmoid approach to the internal auditory canal. The foramen singulare houses the singular nerve which is also called the posterior ampullary nerve and is a branch of the inferior vestibular nerve. This nerve carries afferent information from the posterior semicircular canal