The "foramen obturatum" is a bone structure found in the hip bone. The word is spelled in accordance with the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), a system of phonetic notation that uses symbols to represent sounds of human speech. The first syllable "fo-" is pronounced with the sound /f/, while the second syllable "-ra-" is pronounced with the sound /ɹə/. The third syllable "-men" uses the short vowel /ɛ/ and the fourth syllable "-obtu-" uses the long vowel /oʊ/. The last syllable, "-ratum", is pronounced with the short vowel /ə/. The correct spelling of this word is important for communication in medical fields.
The term "foramen obturatum" refers to a specific anatomical structure found in the human body. Derived from Latin, "foramen" means "hole" or "opening," while "obturatum" translates to "closed" or "obstructed."
In human anatomy, the foramen obturatum is a paired, oval-shaped opening located within the pelvis, specifically in the lower part of the hip bone, known as the os coxae or innominate bone. Each innominate bone is formed by the fusion of three bones: the ilium, ischium, and pubis. The foramen obturatum exists at the junction where the ischium and pubis meet, commonly referred to as the acetabulum or hip socket.
The foramen obturatum acts as a passage for different structures, including blood vessels and nerves, to travel between the pelvic cavity and the lower limb region. The majority of the opening is closed by a fibrocartilaginous membrane known as the obturator membrane. The membrane itself is pierced by several small holes through which the obturator vessels and the obturator nerve pass.
Understanding the foramen obturatum's location and function is crucial in various medical fields, such as orthopedics, surgery, and radiology, as it plays a crucial role in the stability, movement, and overall functioning of the pelvis and lower limb.
Obturator or thyroid f., a large, oval or irregularly triangular aperture in the lower part of the innominate bone, the margins of which are formed by the pubis above and in front and the ischium below and behind; it is closed in the natural state by the obturator or thyroid membrane, except for a small opening for the passage of the obturator vessels and nerve.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "foramen obturatum" has its etymology derived from Latin.
The word "foramen" comes from the Latin noun "forāmen", which means "hole" or "opening". It is derived from the verb "forāre", meaning "to bore" or "to pierce".
The word "obturatum" is the past participle form of the Latin verb "obturāre", meaning "to close up", "to obstruct", or "to block". It is derived from the prefix "ob-", meaning "against" or "in the way", and the verb "turāre", meaning "to make a wall" or "to close".
Thus, "foramen obturatum" can be translated to mean "obstructed or closed hole". In anatomy, it refers to a specific opening in the bony structure of the skull.