BACKGROUND Clavicle is an important bone concerned with movements of upper limb. It has a shaft and two ends, sternal end and acromial end. Inferior surface of the sternal end presents with an impression called costoclavicular area. The presence of costoclavicular groove for the attachment of costoclavicular ligament was studied in 78 clavicles. The most common type seen was rough and elevated. This area is clinically important for radiologists and orthopaedicians. Aim-To study the attachment of costoclavicular ligament on clavicle. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried on 78 clavicles, out of which 27 were of right side and 51 belonging to left side of unknown age and sex. The impressions for the attachment of costoclavicular ligament were observed. Bones were obtained from the Department of Anatomy, K. S. Hegde Medical Academy, Deralakatte, Mangalore. The results were tabulated and percentages were calculated. RESULTS Inferior surface of sternal end of clavicle provides attachment for costoclavicular ligament. The impression is well-demarcated from the rest of the bone in most of the cases and invariably oval in outline and showed distinctive types of surface projection. In this study 78 clavicles comprising of 27 right and 51 left were taken and impressions were noticed, i.e. flat and smooth (FS), rough and elevated (RE), depressed and rough (DR), flat and rough (FR) and no impression. We found 6 (6.4%) flat and smooth (FS), 38 (48.7%) rough and elevated (RE), 23 (29.5%) depressed and rough (DR) and 6 (6.4%) flat and rough (FR) impressions on the clavicle. Out of 78 clavicles, 5 of them had no impressions. CONCLUSION The most common type of pattern of attachment of costoclavicular area on the clavicle is rough and elevated. The knowledge of morphological variation of costoclavicular impression area is clinically useful for radiologists and orthopaedicians.

Background: Hard palate forms an important area in the skull, between the oral cavity and the nasal cavity. It is formed anteriorly by the palatine process of maxillae and posteriorly by the horizontal plates of palatine bones of both sides, forming a cruciform suture in the midline. The hard palate play a crucial role in articulation of speech and any significant variations in its morphology may lead to alterations in the speech of an individual. Materials and Methods:The present study was conducted on 50 dry skulls of unknown sex and age obtained from the department of Anatomy, K S Hegde Medical Academy, Mangaluru. Various morphometric measurments were taken from the skull using digital vernier calipers.Results: The length, breadth and height of the hard palate was 50.45mm±2.86mm, 39.38mm±2.28mm and 10.31mm±2.21mm respectively. The distance between the greater palatine foramen and middle maxillary suture was 14.80mm±1.14mm on right and 14.83mm±1.08mm on left side. The position of greater palatine foramen in 82% of the skulls was opposite 3 rd molars and 18% was between 2 nd and 3 rd molars. The palatine index showed that, 66% were Leptostaphyline, 18% were Mesostaphyline and 16% were Brachystaphyline The palatine height index showed that 56% were Chamestaphyline, and 44% were Orthostaphyline. Conclusion:The present study identifies the commonest location of greater palatine foramen to be opposite the 3 rd maxillary molars which is useful for clinicians to perform procedures on palate. The morphometry is useful in comparing the skulls of various origin.

Auditory tube extends from the anterior wall of middle ear to the lateral wall of the nasopharynx at the level of inferior turbinate. It plays an important role in maintaining the equilibrium of air. In the patients suffering from chronic otitis media, the auditory tube plays an very important landmark for the endoscopic evaluation and for transnasal approach to the infratemporal fossa. The present study was aimed to locate the pharyngeal orifice of the auditory tube in relation to the important anatomical landmarks. The study was carried out on 50 sagittal head and neck sections of formalin fixed cadavers. The pharyngeal opening of auditory tube was looked for its shape, size and position. The anatomical landmarks with reference to the pharyngeal opening of auditory tube taken were posterior end of inferior turbinate, perpendicular distance from the clivus, from the roof of nasopharynx, from the posterior end of hard palate and from the anterior arch of atlas. The distance from these anatomical landmarks to the pharyngeal orifice of auditory tube were measured using digital vernier calipers. The mean and standard deviations of the distances were calculated and tabulated. The measured distances were slightly higher on the right than the left side. These differences were not statistically significant. The present study is useful for otorhinolaryngologists to locate the position of pharyngeal opening of auditory tube endoscopically and evaluate patients with diseases of middle ear.

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