foramen ovale

noun

foramen ova·​le -ō-ˈva-lē  -ˈvä-  -ˈvā- 

1

: an opening in the septum between the two atria of the heart that is normally present only in the fetus

During fetal life, this small tunnel, the foramen ovale, allows blood to bypass the lungs … . Yet in as many as 10 percent of people, physicians now estimate, the hole remains open, or patent.

—Richard Saltus

2

: an oval opening in the greater wing of the cranial sphenoid bone for passage of a nerve supplying the mouth and jaw

Examples of foramen ovale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

He’s put in more than 1,000 miles since his surgery six months ago to fix his heart condition, known as patent foramen ovale. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2024

Doctors later confirmed that Terry had a patent foramen ovale (or PFO), which is a hole between the left and right atria (upper chambers) of the heart that didn’t close naturally after birth. —Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 14 Aug. 2023

The model recently reflected on the one-year anniversary of her hospitalization after experiencing stroke-like symptoms due to her patent foramen ovale (PFO) diagnosis. —Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 13 Mar. 2023

In a patent foramen ovale (PFO), a flap between the two upper chambers of the heart allows venous blood to mix with oxygenated blood. —Tony Dajer, Discover Magazine, 1 Oct. 2015

Those who don’t fuse end up with a PFO, or patent foramen ovale. —Tony Dajer, Discover Magazine, 1 Oct. 2015

Research does seem to show that a heart condition, patent foramen ovale or PFO, increases a person’s risk of having migraine with aura, says Dr. Parikh, but the reason why is unknown. —Kaitlyn Pirie, Good Housekeeping, 25 July 2022

After birth, the foramen ovale usually closes on its own. —Serena Coady, SELF, 28 Apr. 2022

The foramen ovale allows the transportation of blood from the veins to the right side of the fetus’s heart and then onto the left side. —Serena Coady, SELF, 28 Apr. 2022

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, literally, oval opening

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for foramen ovale

• abigail
• cottontail
• countervail
• fingernail
• martingale
• mesoscale
• microscale
• monorail
• nanoscale
• ponytail
• swallowtail
• wensleydale

Medical Definition

foramen ovale

noun

foramen ova·​le -ō-ˈva-(ˌ)lē  -ˈvā-  -ˈvä- 

1

: an opening in the septum between the two atria of the heart that is normally present only in the fetus

2

: an oval opening in the greater wing of the sphenoid for passage of the mandibular nerve