Sphenopalatine Foramen

The sphenopalatine foramen (lat. foramen sphenopalatinum) is an opening in the skull located between the body of the sphenoid bone and the wing of the palatine bone. The hole is triangular in shape and opens on the anterior surface of the body of the sphenoid bone. Vessels and nerves pass through the sphenopalatine foramen.

The sphenopalatine foramen is one of three foramina through which the inferior orbital fissure passes, which connects the nasal cavity with the cranial cavity. Also, the sphenopalatine foramen provides communication between the cavities of the skull and nasopharynx.

Normally, the sphenopalatine foramen is closed by the levator soft palate muscle and the tensor palatine muscle. If these muscles are disrupted, dysfunction of the sphenopalatine foramen may occur, which can lead to breathing problems, as well as pain in the nose, forehead, temples, ears, eyes, and teeth.

To diagnose dysfunction of the sphenopalatine foramen, special research methods are used, such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound. Treatment for dysfunction may include medication, physical therapy, and surgery.

The sphenopalatine foramen (synonymous with the Latin name foramen sphenopalaatinum) is one of three paired natural openings in the skull (the other two pairs are the round and oval foramen), located between the lateral wall of the pyramids of the temporal bones and the body of the sphenoid bone. The hole connects the middle cranial fossa with the nasal cavity on the lateral wall of the nasal septum, communicates with the pterygopalatine fossa and the sphenoid sinus. Also, the hole is limited from the middle ear by a notch.