Transverse foramen
Encyclopedia
The transverse foramen pierces the transverse processes of the seven cervical vertebrae
. In the upper six vertebrae, the foramen gives passage to the vertebral artery
, vertebral vein
, and a plexus
of sympathetic nerves. The seventh foramen lacks the artery, but contains the vein and sympathetic nerves.
Cervical vertebrae
In vertebrates, cervical vertebrae are those vertebrae immediately inferior to the skull.Thoracic vertebrae in all mammalian species are defined as those vertebrae that also carry a pair of ribs, and lie caudal to the cervical vertebrae. Further caudally follow the lumbar vertebrae, which also...
. In the upper six vertebrae, the foramen gives passage to the vertebral artery
Vertebral artery
The vertebral arteries are major arteries of the neck. They branch from the subclavian arteries and merge to form the single midline basilar artery in a complex called the vertebrobasilar system, which supplies blood to the posterior part of the circle of Willis and thus significant portions of the...
, vertebral vein
Vertebral vein
The vertebral vein is formed in the suboccipital triangle, from numerous small tributaries which spring from the internal vertebral venous plexuses and issue from the vertebral canal above the posterior arch of the atlas....
, and a plexus
Plexus
A plexus is a part of nervous system. Plexus has a slightly different definition in vertebrates and in invertebrates.- In vertebrates :In vertebrates, a plexus is an area where nerves branch and rejoin. The electrical signals do not mix; rather, the fibres travel together with their electrical...
of sympathetic nerves. The seventh foramen lacks the artery, but contains the vein and sympathetic nerves.