Foramen lacerum

Foramen lacerum
Base of the skull. Upper surface. (Foramen lacerum is labeled at center left, and is visible as the large hole between yellow sphenoid, red temporal, and blue occipital)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	Foramen lacerum
TA	A02.1.00.055
FMA	54809
Anatomical terminology []

The foramen lacerum (Latin for lacerated piercing) is a triangular hole in the base of the skull located between the sphenoid, apex of petrous temporal and basilar part of occipital.

The foramen lacerum is a foramen situated anteromedial to the carotid canal.

The foramen lacerum fills with cartilage after birth.

The artery of pterygoid canal, the nerve of pterygoid canal and some venous drainage pass through the foramen lacerum.

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. The segment of the internal carotid artery that travels above foramen lacerum is called the lacerum segment.

The Foramen lacerum is a potential route for nasopharyngeal carcinoma to gain access to the cavernous sinus and affect cranial nerves.

Foramen lacerum