Background: External surface of lips has many elevations and depressions forming a characteristic pattern called lip prints, the study of which is known as cheiloscopy. This is unique for the individuals like in fingerprints.Methods: The present study was conducted in 40 pairs of twins and their families to evaluate the possibility of variation of lip print patterns in twins and their parents to find out any similarity among twins and their families.  The twins were taken as the primary subject and their parents as the secondary subjects.Results: The subjects with congenital lip deformity and any inflammation were excluded from the study. The lip prints were taken on the cello tape and highlighted with the black printer powder of Oddyessy make. the photographs were taken for the permanent record. The prints were studied on Adobe Photoshop 7.0 software and classified under Tsuchihashi classification.Conclusions: Comparison of lip prints showed that they are unique to each individual and among twins revealed that they are similar but not identical and their characteristics resembled either parent. Since the lip print patterns are unique, lip print analysis can be considered as a tool for personal identification.

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Background: The posterior cranial fossa is the largest and deepest of the cranial fossae corresponds extracranially with the posterior part of base of skull. Many neurosurgical approaches are limited by the boundaries of the sigmoid, transverse, and transverse–sigmoid junction (TSJ). The knowledge of size and shape of posterior cranial fossa venous sinuses is helpful to neurosurgeons. Aims and Objectives: The present study was designed to evaluate the morphometry of the posterior cranial fossa venous sinuses. Materials and Methods: The material for the present study comprised 60 adult human dry skulls of unknown sex available in the Department of Anatomy of two Medical Colleges of the region. Morphometric parameters of grooves for transverse sinus (TS), occipital sinus groove, and sigmoid sinus were noted. Results: The mean length of grooves for TS, occipital sinus, and sigmoid sinus was 69.5 ± 5.65 mm, 42.62 ± 4.22 mm, and 49 ± 3.87 mm, respectively. Superior sagittal sinus was seen draining into the right side in 83.33% skulls. Width of TS groove was greater on the right side and length of TS groove was more on left side. The position of asterion located below the TSJ was reported in 51.76% skulls. In all the skulls, the asterion was present above the tip of the mastoid process. Incidence of the triple mastoid emissary foramina was 18.33%. Conclusions: Knowledge of normal range of various parameters of posterior cranial fossa venous sinuses is helpful to neurosurgeons in craniovertebral surgical approaches as well as in posterior cranial fossa surgeries.

Background and Aim: Anatomical variations of neuromuscular structures of gluteal region are common. Each and every anatomical variation reflects a different and case specific clinical presentation. Piriformis is the key muscle to this region. This work was done to re-investigate the morphology of this muscle and structures related to it, in sufficient number of specimens to correlate with clinical syndrome. Materials and Methods: 60-lower extremities with gluteal region belonging to 30 embalmed adult human cadavers named as specimens comprised the material for this study. Gluteal region was dissected to see the variations in the origin, insertion and accessory slips of piriformis muscle. Results and Conclusion: Out of 60 specimens, piriformis consisted of one belly in 55 specimens (91.67%) and two bellies were observed in 5 specimens (8.33%). In two specimens belonging to one male cadaver, the piriformis was found being pierced by common trunk for inferior gluteal and common peroneal nerves whereas in three specimens piriformis was also being pierced by one root of posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh An accessory muscle was observed bilaterally in one cadaver. This accessory muscle was present below the piriformis on right side& it was related with the emergence of tibial nerve in between the piriformis and accessory muscle which is a rare pattern. On left side this accessory muscle was present above the piriformis & was associated with presence of superficial branch of superior gluteal artery between the upper border of piriformis and this accessory muscle. All these variations should be kept in mind during physical examination or evaluating radiological images of patients with low back pain. KEY WORDS: Anatomical variation, Piriformis, Pirifomis syndrome, extraspinal sciatic.

Introduction: Length of Styloid Process (SP) varies widely. It can be very short and hidden by vaginal process or it can be elongated to reach hyoid bone. The antiquity anatomists have been observing the incidence of elongated SP and their correlation with occurrence of Eagle's syndrome. Aim: The present study aimed to determine the incidence of the elongated styloid process, their anterior and medial angulations and thickness in order to highlight their possible etiological importance in clinical and surgical conditions. Materials and Methods: The study was done on both sides of 50 dry skulls without any obvious deformity. The length, angulations and maximum thickness of the styloid processes at base and tip were measured with the help of Vernier calipers and expressed as mean±SD. Each skull was carefully examined for the presence of elongated styloid process (length > 30 mm). The skulls with elongated SP were separated and further investigated radiologically (digital X-ray) to know their morphology, radiographic pattern of calcification and to classify them accordingly. Results: Out of the 100 sides of 50 skulls, elongated SP was observed on nine sides, amongst them five skulls (10%) were with unilateral and two (4%) with bilateral elongation of SP. The means of length, anterior and medial angulations and thickness at the level of base and tips of styloid process of right side were 21.90±8.603 mm, 57.50±2.682°, 65.48±2.426°, 4.30±0.248 mm and 2.26±0.279 mm, on the left side were 20.80±5.757 mm, 59.30±2.288°, 63.80±3.687°, 4.70±0.318 mm, 2.49±0.301 mm respectively. The data was statistically compared between the right and left sides and found to be statistically insignificant (p>0.05). Based on the radiological evaluation of elongated SPs, type I (elongated) morphology with partial pattern of calcification was found to be most common. Conclusion: Elongated SP (length>30 mm) was seen more frequently unilaterally (10%) as compared to bilateral (4%). When bilateral, it was more on right side as compared to the left side. Whether normal or elongated, the length of SP was more on right side as compared to the left side and thickness at base and tip was more on left side as compared to the right side. Thus, right SP grows more in length while left grows more in thickness. An elongated SP is important not only clinically but also academically and ontogenically.