The foramen spinosum is a small open hole in the greater wing of the sphenoid bone that gives passage to the middle meningeal artery and vein, and the meningeal branch of the mandibular nerve (sometimes it passes through the foramen ovale instead).

The foramen spinosum is often used as a landmark in neurosurgery due to its close relations with other cranial foramina.

[3][4] The foramen may pass through the sphenoid bone at the apex of the spinous process, or along its medial surface.

[11] This may be useful in trauma surgery to reduce bleeding into the neurocranium,[4] or for removal of the pyramidal process of the palatine bone.

However, due to incorrectly declining the noun, the literal meaning is "hole full of thorns" (Latin: foramen spinosum).

[4] This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 150 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)