what is fossa in anatomy

In anatomy, a fossa is a depression or hollow usually in a bone, such as the hypophyseal fossa (the depression in the sphenoid bone) ). Fossae can be found in various parts of the body, including the skull, mandible, torso, upper limb, and lower limb). They can act to receive another articulating bone or support brain structures. The middle cranial fossa, for example, is an intricate intracranial area that contains many structures susceptible to pathology, making it an area directly pertinent to neurosurgeons, neurologists, otolaryngologists, ophthalmologists, radiologists, and endocrinologists. In addition to anatomical fossae, the word "fossa" can also refer to a slender, long-tailed, carnivorous mammal of Madagascar.