(anatomy) An opening, an orifice, or a short passage, especially in a bone.

plural of foramen

The opening at either end of the alar canal, with the rostral alar foramen closer to the nose and the caudal or posterior alar foramen closer to the back of the skull.

(medicine, anatomy, embryology) An opening in the septum between the right and left atria of the fetal heart that normally closes after birth.

plural of foramen ovale

plural of alar foramen

(anatomy) Either of the interventricular foramina, channels that connect the paired lateral ventricles with the third ventricle at the midline of the brain.

(anatomy) The large foramen, or hole, in the occipital bone for the passage of the medulla oblongata and its membranes.

An opening in the parietal bone for the emissary vein.

(anatomy) A shallow depression in the posterior dorsal midline of the tongue that is the remnant of the more cranial part of the embryonic duct from which the thyroid gland developed.