What is a torn hole, where it is and what passes through it

Medicine is impossible without knowledge of human anatomy, the structure of its bones and skull. In turn, the features of the structure of the skull are studied through the analysis of its functions. The knowledge that we have the opportunity to receive today thanks to the medical atlases created many years ago, enable physicians to diagnose pathologies of development of bones, veins and vessels of the brain. This is especially true for modern traumatologists, neurosurgeons. The acquired knowledge helps in the formulation of an accurate diagnosis, complex operations and the appointment of appropriate treatment.

The human skull is an oblique base of the head, which consists of twenty-three bones. It has many channels and openings through which the nerves, arteries and blood vessels pass. Among them are the so-called lacerated hole , which is located on one of the anatomically complex skull bones - the sphenoid bone. It plays an important role in the life of the body.

Historical background

This hole was first known in the eighteenth century thanks to Jakob Winslow. The name was given to the "occipital foramen of Winslow" due to its relation to the spinous process of the vertebra of the sphenoid bone, in particular its large wing. In the literal translation from Latin foramen spinosum stands for "prickly hole", but in medicine the definition of "torn hole" is used.

Location

In the middle cranial fossa there are many holes, through which the vessels and nerves pass. Among them, can be identified as a lacerated hole , which is located in the lower part of the skull and bone of the wedge shape. It is in front of the spine across the oval hole. Through this cleft pass the middle meningeal artery and vein, as well as the meningeal branch of the nerve of the lower jaw.

Pathology

The laceration that passes through the sphenoid bone may be different in size. In some cases, the gap is absent, so the middle meningeal artery passes through the oval hole into the cranial cavity. This can be observed in about half the world's population. In this case, in 1% of people the hole can be duplicated, as well as the artery that passes through it. Also, a torn cleft may be at the apex of a spinous process or along its surface.

Development of

In newborn infants, a lacerated hole has a length of 2.2 mm and a width of 1 mm, in an adult human - 2.5 mm and 2.1 mm, respectively. The diameter of the hole in the gap is an average of about 2.6 centimeters in an adult. Perfect round education was observed in childhood, from eight months to seven years. With numerous studies of skulls, most of the holes had a circular shape. In animals, in particular large monkeys, the lacerated hole is not in the sphenoid bone, but in the temporal, in some cases it is completely absent. Passage through the torn crack of the above arteries and nerves allows the person's back to rotate.

Medical significance

In neurosurgical practice, access to certain cranial cavity formations is often necessary, so it becomes necessary to focus on standard points. This hole is used as a guide in neurosurgery, because it has a close relationship with other apertures. The torn opening allows one to see the presence of an oval and circular slit, a nerve of the lower jaw, a trigeminal nerve node. This is of great importance during surgery for hemostasis.

What passes in the torn aperture of the skull

We already know that through this hole the middle artery of the meningeal( cerebral membrane), the branch of the nerve of the mandibular, passes. Through the membrane( fibrous cartilage) that closes this hole, the facial nerves, the muscle, pass, which contributes to the tension of the tympanic membrane, as well as the nerve, its innervating. Also here are small veins that connect the facial sinus with the veins of the skull base of the outer, the carotid inner artery, one of the branches of the pharyngeal artery, some of the emissary veins that connect the wreath in the form of a wing with a cavernous sinus. They represent a possible way to spread infection to the brain, and also allow nasopharyngeal cancer to release metastases into the cavernous sinus, affecting the cranial nerves.

Thus, the lacerated gap serves as a reference point for neurosurgeons in conducting surgical intervention. We already know that passes through the torn hole, thanks to medical atlases that were created many years ago. It is located near the top of the pyramid of the temporal bone and is covered with cartilage.

In medicine, an important role is played by studying the anatomy of the human skull. Due to this knowledge, specialists can diagnose, treat and surgical interventions for various diseases and injuries. For the first time, a torn hole was spoken in the eighteenth century. To date, this discovery helps save lives for many people.