The mastoid foramen is a hole in the posterior border of the temporal bone. It transmits an emissary vein between the sigmoid sinus and the suboccipital venous plexus, and a small branch of the occipital artery, the posterior meningeal artery to the dura mater.
Mastoid foramen | |
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![]() Left temporal bone. Inner surface. (Mastoid foramen labeled at bottom left.) | |
![]() Base of the skull. Upper surface. (Temporal bone is pink, and label for mastoid foramen is at left, second from the bottom.) | |
Details | |
Part of | Temporal bone of skull |
System | Skeletal |
Identifiers | |
Latin | foramen mastoideum |
TA98 | A02.1.06.008 |
TA2 | 649 |
FMA | 53159 |
Anatomical terms of bone |
Structure
The mastoid foramen is a hole in the posterior border of the temporal bone of the skull.[1]
The opening of the mastoid foramen is an average of 18 mm from the asterion,[2] and around 34 mm from the external auditory meatus.[3] It is typically very narrow.[1][3] This may be around 2 mm.[3]
Variation
The position and size of this foramen are very variable.[1][3] It is not always present.[1][3] Sometimes, it is duplicated on one side or both sides.[1] Sometimes, it is situated in the occipital bone, or in the suture between the temporal bone and the occipital bone.
Function
The mastoid foramen transmits:
- an emissary vein between the sigmoid sinus and the suboccipital venous plexus or the posterior auricular vein.[1][2]
- a small branch of the occipital artery, the posterior meningeal artery, to the dura mater.[2]
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 141 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
External links
- "Anatomy diagram: 34257.000-1". Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator. Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22.
- "Anatomy diagram: 34257.000-2". Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator. Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2013-06-22.
- Akram Abood Jaffar: Personal website, Anatomical variations