Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 8, 2025

Author Spotlight: A Single-Entry Point Endoscopic Intraventricular Approach for Third Ventriculostomy and Pineal Biopsy
Published on: June 28, 2024
A giant foramen of Vesalius: case report
Charles Peper1, Joe Iwanaga2,3,4, Aaron S Dumont2
1Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
Abstract:
Anatomical variations identified at the skull base can result in challenges to the clinician. For example, the anatomy of the foramen ovale and its neighboring structures is critical knowledge for the surgeon who performs transcutaneous approaches to the foramen ovale for treating patients with trigeminal neuralgia. One nearby structure that can compound invasive procedures and potentially result in complications is the foramen of Vesalius. Although usually small, we report a giant foramen of Vesalius found in an adult female skull. The anatomy and clinical aspects of such a finding are discussed and related to other reports in the literature.
Related Concept Videos
Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles
Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
Cranial Bones: Lateral View
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
Sutures of the Skull
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
Bone Markings
Articulating Projections
Articulating projections are found where two bones meet to form a joint. These structures are usually found at the ends of bones. The largest articulation is a rounded projection called the head, supported by a narrow neck at the ends of...

