foramen magnum

noun

The large foramen, or hole, in the occipital bone for the passage of the medulla oblongata and its membranes.

OriginLatin forāmen magnum →
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Meanings

nounforamen magnum (plural foramina magna)

plural foramina magna

  1. anatomyThe large foramen, or hole, in the occipital bone for the passage of the medulla oblongata and its membranes.

Origin

  1. Latinforāmen magnum“big hole”
  2. Englishforamen magnum

From Latin forāmen magnum (“big hole”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Hungarian öreglyuk
  • öreglyuklarge foramen in the occipital bone
Japanese 大後頭孔
  • 大後頭孔 (dai-kōtō-kō)large foramen in the occipital bone
Polish otwór wielki
  • otwór wielkilarge foramen in the occipital bone
Swedish stora nackhålet
  • stora nackhåletlarge foramen in the occipital bone
Cite this entry
APA

foramen magnum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/foramen%20magnum

MLA

“foramen magnum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/foramen%20magnum. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “foramen magnum,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/foramen%20magnum.

Source: foramen magnum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.