JUGULAR FORAMEN Meaning and
Definition
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The jugular foramen is a term used in anatomy to refer to a specific opening located at the base of the skull. It is situated between the temporal and occipital bones, near the posterior aspect of the petrous part of the temporal bone. The jugular foramen serves as a passageway for important structures that connect the brain and the head with the neck.
This anatomical structure is specifically designed to accommodate the passage of three key components. Firstly, it contains the internal jugular vein, which is a major blood vessel responsible for draining deoxygenated blood from the brain and returning it to the heart. Secondly, it houses the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), which is one of the cranial nerves responsible for transmitting sensory information from the tongue, throat, and other areas of the head and neck. Lastly, the jugular foramen also serves as a conduit for the vagus nerve (CN X), another cranial nerve involved in various important functions, such as controlling heart rate, respiration, and digestion.
Due to its involvement in the transmission of crucial structures, any pathology affecting the jugular foramen can potentially lead to significant clinical consequences. Tumors, infections, or injuries in this region may result in impaired venous drainage, altered nerve function, and subsequent symptoms such as venous congestion, cranial nerve deficits, or even life-threatening conditions.
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A passage between the petrous portion of the temporal bone and the jugular process of the occipital, sometimes divided into two by the intrajugular processes; it contains the internal jugular vein, inferior petrosal sinus, the glossopharyngeal, pneumogastric, and spinal accessory nerves, and meningeal branches of the ascending pharyngeal and occipital arteries.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for JUGULAR FORAMEN
- jugular foramel
- jugular forameo
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Etymology of JUGULAR FORAMEN
The word "jugular foramen" has its etymology rooted in Latin.
The term "jugular" comes from the Latin word "iugulum", meaning "throat" or "collarbone". In medical terminology, "jugular" refers to the jugular veins, which are the main veins that carry blood from the brain back to the heart.
The word "foramen" also has Latin origins, derived from "forare", which means "to bore" or "to pierce". In anatomy, a foramen is an opening or passage in bones that allows the passage of nerves, blood vessels, or other structures.
Therefore, the term "jugular foramen" refers to a specific opening or passage located in the base of the skull, through which the internal jugular vein and certain cranial nerves pass.
