Foramen Vesalii
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The foramen Vesalii(plural: foramina Vesalii), also known as the foramen of Vesalius, sphenoidal emissary foramen, foramen venosus or canaliculus sphenoidal, is a tiny variably present foramen in the greater wing of the sphenoid bone. It transmits a sphenoidal emissary vein linking the pterygoid venous plexus in the infratemporal fossa to the cavernous sinus.
Its incidence varies markedly. A study of 100 cadaveric skulls found it present in only 17% and always single 2 whereas a study of only 34 cadaveric skulls found it more common on the right and bilateral in 23% and unilateral in 20% 3.
Gross anatomy
The foramen is located on the sphenoid bone
- anteromedial to the foramen ovale
- lateral to the foramen rotundum and Vidian canal
Related pathology
If an emissary vein is present it serves as an extracranial-intracranial connection, connecting the infratemporal fossa (pterygoid venous plexus) and the middle cranial fossa (cavernous sinus). Thus there is a risk of extracranial infected thrombus reaching the cavernous sinus.
History and etymology
Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564) has been called "the founder of modern anatomy", and amongst extensive investigations and writings he published the first extensive study of the sphenoid bone 4.
-<p>The<strong> foramen Vesalii</strong>, also known as the<strong> foramen of Vesalius, sphenoidal emissary foramen</strong>,<strong> foramen venosus </strong>or <strong>canaliculus </strong><strong>sphenoidal</strong>, is a tiny variably present foramen in the <a href="/articles/greater-wing-of-sphenoid">greater wing</a> of the <a href="/articles/sphenoid-bone">sphenoid bone</a>. It transmits a sphenoidal emissary vein linking the pterygoid venous plexus in the <a href="/articles/infratemporal-fossa">infratemporal fossa</a> to the <a href="/articles/cavernous-sinus">cavernous sinus</a>.</p><p>Its incidence varies markedly. A study of 100 cadaveric skulls found it present in only 17% and always single <sup>2 </sup>whereas a study of only 34 cadaveric skulls found it more common on the right and bilateral in 23% and unilateral in 20% <sup>3</sup>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The foramen is located on the sphenoid bone</p><ul>- +<p>The<strong> foramen Vesalii </strong>(plural: foramina Vesalii), also known as the<strong> foramen of Vesalius, sphenoidal emissary foramen</strong>,<strong> foramen venosus </strong>or <strong>canaliculus </strong><strong>sphenoidal</strong>, is a tiny variably present foramen in the <a href="/articles/greater-wing-of-sphenoid">greater wing</a> of the <a href="/articles/sphenoid-bone">sphenoid bone</a>. It transmits a sphenoidal emissary vein linking the pterygoid venous plexus in the <a href="/articles/infratemporal-fossa">infratemporal fossa</a> to the <a href="/articles/cavernous-sinus">cavernous sinus</a>.</p><p>Its incidence varies markedly. A study of 100 cadaveric skulls found it present in only 17% and always single <sup>2 </sup>whereas a study of only 34 cadaveric skulls found it more common on the right and bilateral in 23% and unilateral in 20% <sup>3</sup>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The foramen is located on the sphenoid bone</p><ul>
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