foramen

[ fuh-rey-muhn ]

noun

, plural fo·ram·i·na [f, uh, -, ram, -, uh, -n, uh].

1. an opening, orifice, or short passage, as in a bone or in the integument of the ovule of a plant.

foramen

/ fɒˈræmɪnəl; fɒˈreɪmɛn /

noun

1. a natural hole, esp one in a bone through which nerves and blood vessels pass

foramen

/ fə-rā′mən /

, Plural foramina fə-răm′ə-nə

1. An opening or short passage, especially in the body.
2. ◆ The large opening in the base of the skull through which the spinal cord passes is called the foramen magnum (măg|||PRIMARY_STRESS|||nəm).
3. ◆ 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 (ō-văl|||PRIMARY_STRESS|||ē, -vā|||PRIMARY_STRESS|||lē, -vä|||PRIMARY_STRESS|||-).

Derived Forms

• foraminal, adjective

Other Words From

• fo·ram·i·nal [f, uh, -, ram, -, uh, -nl], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of foramen¹

1665–75; < Latin forāmen hole, opening, equivalent to forā ( re ) to bore ² “pierce” + -men resultative noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of foramen¹

C17: from Latin, from forāre to bore, pierce

Example Sentences

It is remarkable that neither of these observers should have noticed the foramen in the testa.

From Project Gutenberg

In Eutamias townsendii, however, the infraorbital foramen is rounded as much as in the subgenus Eutamias and in the genus Tamias.

From Project Gutenberg

The foramen magnum, occipital condyles, and exoccipitals show no unusual features.

From Project Gutenberg

The ductus arteriosus closes up about the same time as the foramen ovale.

From Project Gutenberg

This is owing to the foramen ovale being very open and closing slowly.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• break
• crack
• crater
• cut
• dent
• gap
• mouth
• pit
• pocket
• tunnel
• void
• window