Meaning & use
foramen of Monro
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A narrow opening in the brain through which cerebrospinal fluid passes from each lateral ventricle into the third ventricle.
Grammar: A countable noun; there are two, one on each side: the foramina of Monro.
Patterns
- the foramen of Monro in the brain
- blockage of the foramen of Monro
Fluid normally drains through the foramen of Monro into the third ventricle.
A cyst blocked the foramen of Monro and caused pressure to build in the brain.
Surgeons located the foramen of Monro during the endoscopy.
Word forms
| plural | foramina of Monro |
|---|
Common combinations
- blocked foramen of Monro
- A blocked foramen of Monro can cause hydrocephalus.
- through the foramen of Monro
- The fluid flows through the foramen of Monro.
- obstruction of the foramen
- Obstruction of the foramen can enlarge the ventricles.
- interventricular foramen
- Another term is the interventricular foramen.
Synonyms and how they differ
- interventricular foramen
- This is the formal anatomical name and is used in textbooks, while foramen of Monro is the traditional name with a person's name.
Word family
- foramen noun
- a small opening or hole, especially in a bone
- foramina noun
- the plural of foramen
- ventricle noun
- a fluid-filled cavity in the brain, or a chamber of the heart
- hydrocephalus noun
- a build-up of fluid in the brain
Commonly confused: foramen of Monro or foramen magnum? foramen of Monro or foramen of Magendie?
foramen of Monro vs foramen magnum
The foramen magnum is the large hole at the base of the skull where the spinal cord passes, and is a different structure.
foramen of Monro vs foramen of Magendie
The foramen of Magendie is an opening in the fourth ventricle, further down the fluid pathway.
Practice
What passes through the foramen of Monro?
Choose one answer.
The foramen of Monro connects ventricles and lets cerebrospinal fluid flow. The spinal cord passes through the foramen magnum instead.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “foramen of Monro”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.