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The Relationship between the Foramen Spinosum and the Sphenoidal Emissary Foramen: Implications for Headache and Epistaxis
Author(s) -
Laslo Jillian,
Cyrus Leah,
Zdilla Matthew
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.864.12
Subject(s) - medicine , foramen , anatomy
In the human skull, the foramen spinosum (FS) and the sphenoidal emissary foramen (SEF), also known as the foramen of Vesalius, are located in the sphenoid bone. The FS is located posterolateral to the foramen ovale and transmits the middle meningeal artery (MMA). The SEF is typically located anteromedial to the foramen ovale and posteromedial to the foramen rotundum. The SEF transmits emissary veins between the cavernous sinus and the pterygoid plexus. The area of the FS is of clinical importance because incongruencies between the foramen size and the size of the MMA may contribute to headache. Likewise, the SEF is clinically important with regard to epistaxis due to excessive intracranial blood pressure. Analysis of the FS and SEF of 91 dry adult crania revealed a significant positive correlation between the left‐sided FS and SEF areas and also right‐sided FS and SEF areas. The relationship between the size of the FS and SEF may aid in the understanding of headache and epistaxis as well as intracranial hemodynamics. Research was supported by funding from the WV Research Challenge Fund [HEPC.dsr.14.13].