The
foramen ovale is an opening in the greater wing of the
sphenoid bone. The foramen ovale is one of two
cranial foramina in the greater wing, the other being the
foramen spinosum. The foramen ovale is posterolateral to the
foramen rotundum and anteromedial to the
foramen spinosum. Posterior and medial to the foramen is the opening for the
carotid canal.
Variation In a study conducted on 100 skulls, the foramen ovale was divided into 2 or 3 components in 4.5% of the cases. The borders of the foramen in some skulls were also irregular and rough. This may suggest, based on radiological images, the presence of morbid changes, which might be the sole anatomical variation in the foramina ovalia of humans. In newborn, the foramen ovale is about 3.85 mm and in the adults about 7.2 mm in length. The average maximal length is about 7.48 mm and its average minimal length is 4.17 mm in the adult. The width extends from 1.81 mm in the newborn to 3.7 mm in adults.
Development Similar to other foramina, the foramen ovale differs in shape and size throughout life. In a study using over 350 skulls, the earliest perfect ring-shaped formation of the foramen ovale was observed in the 7th month of fetal life, and the latest in 3 years after birth. == Clinical significance ==