From Handwiki - Reading time: 2 min| Mastoid foramen | |
|---|---|
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 |
| Anatomical terms of bone | |
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.
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]
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.
The mastoid foramen transmits: