foramen magnum

[ mag-nuhm ]

/ ˈmæg nəm /

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noun Anatomy.

the large opening in the base of the skull forming the passage from the cranial cavity to the spinal canal.

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Origin of foramen magnum

1880–85; <New Latin: literally, great hole

Words nearby foramen magnum

for all that, for all the world, for a loop, foram, foramen, foramen magnum, foraminate, foraminifer, foraminiferan, forasmuchas, for a song

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use foramen magnum in a sentence

The foramen magnum, the hole through which the spinal cord exits the head, was positioned directly under the skull, implying the child had an erect posture and walked on two legs.
Fossils and ancient DNA paint a vibrant picture of human origins|Erin Wayman|September 15, 2021|Science News
The foramen magnum, occipital condyles, and exoccipitals show no unusual features.
Systematic Status of a South American Frog, Allophryne ruthveni Gaige|John D. Lynch
In a posterior view the foramen magnum and the four bones which surround it and together form the occipital segment are well seen.
The Vertebrate Skeleton|Sidney H. Reynolds
The occipital segment consists of four cartilage bones, three of which together surround the foramen magnum.
The Vertebrate Skeleton|Sidney H. Reynolds

Just external to the foramen magnum is a small foramen for the exit of the hypoglossal nerve (figs. 44 and 45, XII).
The Vertebrate Skeleton|Sidney H. Reynolds
There are often a pair of prominent vacuities in the supra-occipital dorsal to the foramen magnum.
The Vertebrate Skeleton|Sidney H. Reynolds

British Dictionary definitions for foramen magnum

foramen magnum

noun

the large opening at the base of the skull through which the spinal cord passes

Word Origin for foramen magnum

New Latin: large hole

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012