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foramen magnum

American

[mag-nuhm] / ˈmæg nəm /

noun

Anatomy.

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

foramen magnum British

noun

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

"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

Etymology

Origin of foramen magnum

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The vertebral artery passes through the vertebral foramen in the cervical vertebrae and then through the foramen magnum into the cranial cavity to supply blood to the brain and spinal cord.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The large foramen magnum is located at the midline of the posterior fossa.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Openings here include the large foramen magnum, plus the internal acoustic meatus, jugular foramina, and hypoglossal canals.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

On either side of the foramen magnum is an oval-shaped occipital condyle.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Occipital foramen: the opening in the occiput, opposed to a similar opening in the prothorax: = foramen magnum.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023