Mastoid foramen
Encyclopedia
The mastoid foramen is a large hole in the posterior border of the temporal bone
. It transmits a Mastoid emissary vein to the sigmoid sinus
and a small branch of the occipital artery
, the posterior meningeal artery to the dura mater
.
, or in the suture
between the temporal and the occipital.
It transmits (1) an emissary vein connecting the sigmoid sinus with the posterior auricular vein and (2) a meningeal branch of the occipital artery
Temporal bone
The temporal bones are situated at the sides and base of the skull, and lateral to the temporal lobes of the cerebrum.The temporal bone supports that part of the face known as the temple.-Parts:The temporal bone consists of four parts:* Squama temporalis...
. It transmits a Mastoid emissary vein to the sigmoid sinus
Sigmoid sinus
The sigmoid sinuses , within the human head, are two areas beneath the brain which allow blood to drain inferiorly from the posterior center of the head. They drain from the transverse sinuses and converge with the inferior petrosal sinuses to form the internal jugular vein...
and a small branch of the occipital artery
Occipital artery
The occipital artery arises from the external carotid artery opposite the facial artery, its path is below the posterior belly of digastric to the occipital region. This artery supplies blood to the back of the scalp and sterno-mastoid muscles...
, the posterior meningeal artery to the dura mater
Dura mater
The dura mater , or dura, is the outermost of the three layers of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is derived from Mesoderm. The other two meningeal layers are the pia mater and the arachnoid mater. The dura surrounds the brain and the spinal cord and is responsible for...
.
Variations
The position and size of this foramen are very variable; it is not always present; sometimes it is situated in the occipital boneOccipital bone
The occipital bone, a saucer-shaped membrane bone situated at the back and lower part of the cranium, is trapezoidal in shape and curved on itself...
, or in the suture
Cranial sutures
*Surgical suture, to describe stitches and other techniques for holding tissues together.* Geology, to describe a certain type of boundary between layers of rock....
between the temporal and the occipital.
It transmits (1) an emissary vein connecting the sigmoid sinus with the posterior auricular vein and (2) a meningeal branch of the occipital artery