The foramen magnum is the hole at the base of a skull through which the spinal cord passes. Literally, foramen magnum means a "large hole or opening" in Latin. The position of the foramen magnum is a strong indicator of the angle of the spinal column to the head and subsequently whether the body is habitually horizontal (e.g., as in the case of a horse) or vertical (e.g. as in the case of an ape or human).