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introductionstatpearls· Introduction· item NBK535432

The foramen spinosum is a small, circular opening located posterolateral to the foramen ovale within the greater wing of the sphenoid (see Image. Skull Foramina). The greater wing of the sphenoid projects laterally from the sphenoid body, contributing to the floor of the middle cranial fossa. Jakob Benignus Winslow coined the term “foramen spinosum” due to the aperture's position adjacent to the spinous process of the greater wing of the sphenoid.[1] The foramen spinosum conveys the middle meningeal vessels and the mandibular nerve's meningeal branch, positioning this structure as an essential reference in diagnosing epidural bleeding after head injuries. The surgical significance of this opening lies in providing orientation during middle cranial fossa approaches, skull base surgeries, and interventions involving the infratemporal fossa, where precise localization reduces the risk of vascular or neural injury. Knowledge of the foramen spinosum’s anatomy and contents allows clinicians to accurately interpret imaging, plan surgical procedures, and anticipate complications associated with trauma or iatrogenic injury.