Carotid foramen or canal

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Description:

This is the opening and curved channel that transmits the internal carotid artery through petrous temporal bone. The foramen opens on the inferior surface of the petrous temporal bone. From this oval opening the canal courses superiorly into the bone for approximately one centimeter before curving anteromedially through the bone. The anteromedially directed canal runs for two centimeters within the petrous bone before it exits at the petrous apex into the foramen lacerum. Here the artery turns superiorly again to enter the cranial vault. Accompanying the artery through the canal is the carotid sympathetic nerve plexus.