foramen

fo·ra·men  (f-rmn)

n. pl. fo·ram·i·na (-rm-n) or fo·ra·mens

An opening or orifice, as in a bone or in the covering of the ovule of a plant.

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[Latin formen, an opening, from forre, to bore.]

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fo·rami·nal (-rm-nl), fo·rami·nous (-ns) adj.

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foramen [for-ray-men, -ram-in-a]

Noun

pl -ramina -ramens Anat a natural hole, esp. one in a bone through which nerves pass [Latin]

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foramen  (f-rmn)

Plural foramina (f-rm-n) or foramens

An opening or short passage, especially in the body. The large opening in the base of the skull through which the spinal cord passes is called the foramen magnum (mgnm). The opening in the septum between the right and left atria of the heart, present in the fetus but usually closed soon after birth, is the foramen ovale (-vl, -vl, -vä-).

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

foramen - a natural opening or perforation through a bone or a membranous structure hiatus foramen of Monro, interventricular foramen, Monro's foramen - the small opening (on both the right and left sides) that connects the third ventricle in the diencephalon with the lateral ventricle in the cerebral hemisphere foramen magnum - the large opening at the base of the cranium through which the spinal cord passes opening, gap - an open or empty space in or between things; "there was a small opening between the trees"; "the explosion made a gap in the wall"