The transcondylar approach is being increasingly used to access lesions ventral to the spinal canal at the level of the foramen magnum can be reached using a ventral or a dorsal approach. Understanding the anatomy of the occipital condyles is important for this approach.The present work is aimed to study occipital condyles morphometrically and its importance in transcondylar approach. Materials and Methods: The study was performed on 200 occipital condyles of 100 adult human dry skulls of unknown age and sex. The measurements like length, width, height, and the anterior and posterior intercondylar distances were measured. Results: The length, width and height of the occipital condyle were found to be 21.83, 1=1.07 and 8.25 mm on the right and 22.19, 11.42 and 8.19 mm on the left respectively. The anterior and posterior intercondylar distances were 21.28 and 40.61 mm respectively. Conclusion: The above said parameters of the occipital condyles and its variations should be taken into consideration during posterior and lateral approaches to the craniovertebral junction by neurosurgeons and orthopaedicians.

BACKGROUND Metopic suture is located anterior to the coronal suture. There are two types: complete and incomplete metopic sutures. Knowledge regarding the metopic sutures in adults is necessary to avoid misinterpretation of radiographs as frontal bone fracture. Knowledge with regard to metopic suture is helpful for anatomists and medico legal experts. This study has been done to find out the incidence of metopic suture, classify the metopic sutures into complete and incomplete type and further classify the incomplete variety based on shape. METHODS This study was conducted on 50 skulls from the Department of Anatomy, Autonomous Government Medical College and Hospital, Ratlam (MP). Skulls with signs of disease and damaged skulls were excluded from the study. RESULTS In the present study, out of 50 dry adult cadaveric skulls, 2 skulls (4 %) showed complete metopism. Incomplete metopic sutures were present in 28 / 50 (56 %) and absent in 20 / 50 (40 %). Out of 28 incomplete metopic sutures, single linear metopic sutures were present in 12 / 28 (42.85 %). Double linear metopic sutures were present in 7 / 28 (25 %). V-shaped metopic sutures were present in 5 / 28 (17.85 %) and U shaped metopic sutures were present in 4 / 28 (14.28 %). CONCLUSIONS Detailed knowledge of the metopic suture is important for neurosurgeons and radiologists in routine practice. Vertical frontal bone fractures may be easily misdiagnosed with persistent metopic sutures. This anatomical knowledge of metopic sutures is very useful for doctors while treating traumatised patients and during surgical intervention including frontal craniotomy. KEYWORDS Suture, Metopism, Frontal Bone, Nasion, Bregma

The nutrient artery for tibia is one of the largest nutrient vessels in the body. It enters the tibia through its nutrient foramen located over its proximal third, on its posterior surface, runs through nutrient canal and then enters the medullary cavity in the middle third of tibia. The aim of the present study was to determine the location, number and position of the nutrient foramen of tibia. The study was conducted in the anatomy department of Government medical college, Ratlam, M.P. Dry; preserved adult tibia bones of unknown age and sex were randomly selected. 60 tibia bones were studied, out of which 31 were on the left side and 29 of the right side. The presence of nutrient foramen was observed macroscopically and confirmed by passing a 24 gauge needle tip through it. Then, its number, location, position and direction were noted. Single nutrient foramen with downward directed nutrient canal was observed in all but one bone (one case of each exception). The foramen was present on the posterior surface in 93% of cases, and on the upper third of the bone in 98% of cases.