The morphological properties and variations of NPC should be considered with a correct radiological evaluation so as to prevent the complications and improper practices in local anesthesia, maxillary surgery and implant surgery practices. Especially dentists, otolaryngologist and plastic surgeons need to know the anatomy and variations of NPC.

To reduce the risk of iatrogenic injury to sympathetic chain during anterior and anterolateral approaches to the cervical spine, its location has to be well defined and known by surgeons. We analyzed the course of sympathetic chain and its ganglia from C7 up to its entry into the cranial base and its relationship mainly with the longus colli (LC). Formalin fixed 20 human cadavers were dissected under operating microscope. Measurement of the dimensions of the ganglia, distance of the trunk to the LC, and the angles identifying the course of the chain were performed. Superior and inferior cervical/cervicothoracic ganglion were observed in all specimens, the middle cervical ganglion was observed in 48% of the specimens. The middle ganglion consisted of two ganglia in 10% of the dissected sides. Forty percent of the inferior cervical/cervicothoracic ganglion was at the C7 level, 25% was at C7-Th1 disc level, and 35% was at Th1 level. Vertebral ganglion was detected in only 8% of the specimens. The course of the sympathetic trunk converges medially descending from upper cervical levels to the lower levels. Anterior surgical approach to the cervical spine is a commonly used procedure. Although Horner syndrome due to sympathetic injury is not a common sequence of cervical operations, our findings support the current few reports on the subject and should be useful to any surgeon who operates in the cervical region to avoid this uncommon complication.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the craniofacial anthropometric measurements of Turkish young adults between the ages of 18 and 25. Anterior view and side profile photographs were taken of 100 females and 100 males who volunteered to participate in the study and had no craniofacial anomalies, history of facial trauma, or history of orofacial surgery. Thirteen landmarks on the face and head were chosen, and these landmarks were identified on the photographs. Then, using these landmarks, a total of 19 distance measurements were made, 16 from the anterior view, and 3 from the side profile. There were statistically significant differences between the sexes in 13 parameters: 2 parameters (t-n and ft-ft) being higher in females and 11 parameters (v-n, v-t, t-gn, sn-gn, n-gn, st-gn, sl-gn, fz-fz, z-z, tr-tr and go-go) being higher in males. Also, 7 facial anthropometric ratios were calculated. There were statistically significant differences between the genders in all ratios. The literature reveals that craniofacial anthropometric measurements have been performed on many different populations and that there are numerous differences between the results of the studies conducted. We are of the opinion that the results obtained in this present study will contribute to the literature by helping to determine the standard values for the Turkish population between the ages of 18 and 25, which can be used in diagnosis, treatment and postoperative evaluation in areas such as forensic science, orthodontics, clinical genetics, maxillofacial surgery, and plastic surgery.

Objective: To optimize the approach to the lacrimal sac during intranasal dacryocystorhinostomy.Design: Microscopic measurement of anatomical landmarks in cadaver sagittal head sections. Setting:The anatomy department of a large university hospital.Participants: Twenty adult cadaver sagittal head sections (12 right and 8 left) fixed with 10% formaldehyde solution were evaluated.Intervention: During endoscopic dissections, the maxillary line, lacrimomaxillary suture, nasolacrimal duct, and lacrimal sac were exposed. Main Outcome Measures:Greater knowledge of the relationship among anatomical structures.Results: The entire lacrimal sac was in 2 of 20 sides anterior and in 3 of 20 sides posterior to the axilla of the middle nasal concha. The fornix of the lacrimal sac was situated above the axilla in all sides. We evaluated the localization of the lacrimal sac to the maxillary line, which is of clinical importance in intranasal osteotomy during dacryocystorhinostomy. In 17 of 20 sides it is possible to reveal the axilla of the middle nasal concha during osteotomy.Conclusions: Underexposure or lack of true localization of the sac are the most frequently encountered reasons for dacryocystorhinostomy failure. The maxillary line and adhesion point of the middle nasal concha are the 2 most important landmarks in localization of the sac. A mucosal incision anterior to the maxillary line and dissection up to the point where the middle concha adheres, followed by osteotomy on the lacrimomaxillary suture, nearly always ensure the exposure of the sac.

The aim of this study was to classify the buccal branches of the facial nerve in relation to the parotid duct and its relevance to surgical procedures such as rhytidectomy and parotid gland surgery. In this study, 30 cadaver heads (60 specimens) were dissected. The vertical and horizontal relationships between the buccal branches of the facial nerve and tragus, and parotid duct were recorded and analyzed. The buccal branches of the facial nerve were classified into four types: Type I: a single buccal branch of the facial nerve at the point of emergence from the parotid gland and inferior to the parotid duct. Type II: a single buccal branch of the facial nerve at the point of emergence from the parotid gland and superior to the parotid duct. Type III: buccal and other branches of the facial nerve formed a plexus. Type IV: two branches of buccal branch; one superior and one inferior to the duct at the point of emergence from the parotid gland. The buccal branches of the facial nerve are very vulnerable to surgical injury because of its location in the midface. For this reason, the surgeons who are willing to operate on this area should have a true knowledge about the anatomy of these branches.