Foramen magnum
From EvoWiki
In vertebrates, the foramen magnum, literally meaning "big hole," is a hole in the occipital bone in the base of the skull, through which the medulla oblongata (part of the spinal cord) extends from the braincase.
In most mammals, including apes, the foramen magnum is situated behind the skull, as the head extends forward from the body. In humans the foramen magnum is situated beneath the skull, as the head is ballanced atop an erect bipedal body. In paleontology the foramen magnum is used to determine whether an animal was bipedal.
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This page is part of the EvoWiki Encyclopedia of Anatomy and Physiology. |
