A comprehensive review of the foramina of Luschka: history, anatomy, embryology, and surgery

Purpose: The purpose of this review is to comprehensively review the foramina of Luschka in regard to their discovery, embryology, anatomy, and surgical relevance. Methods: This subject review of the foramina of Luschka was composed after conducting a thorough review of the available literature on this topic using PubMed and other primary sources. Results: The foramina of Luschka are paired apertures located in the lateral recesses of the fourth ventricle, within the posterior cranial fossa. The foramina of Luschka are of importance clinically as their blockage can disrupt the flow of cerebrospinal fluid leading to the development of hydrocephalus. These apertures were first described by the German anatomist Hubert von Luschka in the nineteenth century. These foramina are thought to emerge at around the 26th week of development. The apertures project into the cerebellopontine angle at the lateral border of the pontomedullary sulcus. Conclusion: The foramina of Luschka may be surgically manipulated for the excision of tumors involving the fourth ventricle and surrounding structures and accessed for cochlear nucleus stimulation.