Background: Foramen ovale (FO) plays an important role in the diagnostic and surgical procedures related to middle cranial fossa. So the knowledge on the variations, dimensions and the topographic location is must to the neurosurgeons while dealing with this region. The present study aimed at finding the anatomical variations, dimensions and the location of foramen ovale.

Introduction: The occurrence of vertebrobasilar insufficiency caused by rotation of the head has been reported due to thickened fibroligamentous structures, osteophyte formation, duplication of foramen transversarium, and congenital absence of the foramen transversarium. The size and variations of the foramen transversarium plays an important role in vertebrobasillar insufficiency. The present study was carried out on the anatomical variations of foramen transversarium.

Introduction:The morphometric measurements of the hard palate is very much essential while performing orthognathic surgeries, cleft palate surgery, for preoperative evaluation of patients with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, Naso pharyngoscopy and nasogastric intubation. The precise knowledge on the location of greater palatine foramen is essential to block he maxillary nerve in pterygopalatine fossa for various diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Thus the study was conducted on the morphometric analysis of the hard palate and greater palatine foramen.

Background: The knowledge of the anatomical variations of atlas plays very important role in neurosurgery where the surgical manipulation of the cervical spine is needed to decompress the vertebral artery as the variations of altas leads to cause cervico-basilar insufficiency. Materials and methods: Study was carried out on 50 dry adult human atlas vertebrae of unknown sex which are collected from department of Anatomy. All the specimens were observed for presence of any morphological variations. Results: Among the 50 atlases studied. The following morphological variations were observed. Incomplete foramen transversarium was observed in 2 (4%) cases. Retroarticular canals or ponticles were present in 10 (20%) of cases. Among that the complete posterior ponticles was seen in 2 (4%) atlases, one with bilateral complete retroarticular canal, and one with unilateral retroarticular canal. Incomplete posterior ponticles was seen in 8 (16%) atlases, and the incomplete lateral ponticle was seen in 1 (2%) atlas. Bilobed superior articular facet was observed in 7 (14%) of cases. Spur on the anterior arch was observed in 10 (20%) of cases. Abnormal groove around the superior articular facet on left side was observed in one atlas. Conclusion: The knowledge of the absence of costal element or incomplete formation of foramen transversarium is important for radiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons who deal with diagnosis and treatment of head and neck region. Extreme rotation of cervical spine in an individual with retro-articular canal may lead to the compression of the third part of vertebral artery and may cause vertebro-basilar insufficiency. Hence the knowledge of the anatomical variations is very important for neurosurgeons dealing with surgical manipulation of the cervical spine to decompress the vertebral artery.

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