JUGULAR FOSSA Meaning and
Definition
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The jugular fossa is a term used in anatomy to describe a specific bony structure located at the base of the skull. It refers to a shallow depression or concavity on the inside surface of the skull, specifically on the anterior part of the temporal bone. This fossa is situated in close proximity to the junction of the squamous and petrous parts of the temporal bone.
The jugular fossa is a significant anatomical feature as it serves as a housing unit for a vital structure known as the jugular bulb, or bulb of the internal jugular vein. The jugular bulb is a dilated portion of the internal jugular vein, a major vein responsible for draining deoxygenated blood from the brain towards the heart.
This depression, or fossa, houses and protects the jugular bulb, shaping the canal through which it passes. Additionally, the jugular fossa is also related to other important anatomical structures such as the inferior petrosal sinus, a small vein responsible for draining venous blood from the pituitary gland.
The identification and understanding of the jugular fossa are crucial in various medical disciplines, including neurosurgery, radiology, and anatomical dissections. Anomalies or abnormalities in the jugular fossa and its associated structures can have clinical implications and may contribute to conditions such as jugular bulb diverticulum or certain disorders involving the internal jugular vein.
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(1) An oval depression near the posterior border of the petrous portion of the temporal bone, to the inner side of the styloid process, ending at the jugular notch; in it lies the beginning of the internal jugular vein; (2) the hollow in the neck just above the sternal notch.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for JUGULAR FOSSA
- jugular forsa
- jugular fos3a
- jugular fosca
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- jugular fosra
- jugular fossi
- jugular fosse
- jugular fossc
- j ugular fossa
- ju gular fossa
- jug ular fossa
- jugu lar fossa
- jugul ar fossa
- jugula r fossa
- jugular f ossa
- jugular fo ssa
- jugular fos sa
- jugular foss a
Etymology of JUGULAR FOSSA
The word "jugular fossa" has its origins in Latin.
"Jugular" comes from the Latin word "jugulum", which means "collarbone" or "throat". In anatomical terms, "jugular" refers to the veins located in the neck, specifically the jugular veins.
"Fossa" also originates from Latin and means "ditch" or "trench". In anatomy, "fossa" is used to describe a depression or hollow area within a bone or anatomical structure.
Therefore, the term "jugular fossa" refers to a hollow or depressed area in the skull, specifically within the temporal bone, where the internal jugular vein is located.
