Morphological and Morphometric Study of Foramen Magnum in Dried Human Skull Bones of North-West Indian Region

Abstract

Background: The Foramen Magnum is communication between vertebral canal and posterior cranial fossa and important landmark to key structures such as brain, spinal cord, vertebral arteries. Anatomical knowledge of the foramen magnum is significant for understanding the pathophysiology of various disorders of the craniovertebral junction as well as for planning surgical procedures. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 62 dry skulls of unknown gender obtained from the Department of Anatomy. The shape of foramen magnum was classified as oval, round, tetragonal, pentagonal, hexagonal and irregular in shape and measurements like anterio-posterior diameter and transverse diameter of foramen magnum were taken using the Digital Vernier sliding caliper. Results: In the present study most common shape was oval in 22 (35.48%) skulls, followed by Egg shape in 12 (19.35%) skulls and least common pentagonal shape in 1(1.61%) skulls. In our study the mean anteroposterior diameter was 34.17 mm. and mean transverse diameter was observed to be 28.86 mm. Conclusion: Results of our present study may help in neurosurgeons, orthopedicians, radiologist and anesthetist in North West indian population. KEY WORDS: foramen magnum, skull, transverse diameter, oval.

Foramen magnum ve kranyumun uyumu: Anatomik ve radyolojik bir çalışma

“…Also, the importance is based on FM'close relation with the brainstem and spinal cord, an enlargement of the medulla oblongata 2,4 . The FM is a critical structure and clinically relevant revealing many pathologies, planning surgery and evaluation for radiologist, neurosurgeons, anaesthetist and anatomist 2,[4][5][6][7][8][9] . Additionally, the FM types, FM morphometry and variations are required for accurate diagnosis and treatment 2,4 .…”

“…In other words, the FM morphometry may be benefit for lateral surgical approaches for reaching lesions in the middle and posterior part of cranial base 11,12 . Furthermore, the knowledge of FM shape and anatomic variations may affect some surgical procedures including vertebral artery, posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm repairs, FM meningioma resections, and FM decompression 2,[4][5][6][7][8][9] . The data also provide the valuable information about neurologic interpretation and play an important role in diagnostic, clinical and radiological aspects 2,4,7 .…”

“…The FM shapes were evaluted according to FM type classification by various researchers. The shapes of FM differ from; it can be two semicircles oval, egg, round, tetragonal, pentagonal, hexagonal, and irregular 2,4,9,11,[13][14][15][16] . The variations in the FM types may be affected some factors like various ethnical group, sample size, sexual dimorphism and types of population 9 .…”

“…The shapes of FM differ from; it can be two semicircles oval, egg, round, tetragonal, pentagonal, hexagonal, and irregular 2,4,9,11,[13][14][15][16] . The variations in the FM types may be affected some factors like various ethnical group, sample size, sexual dimorphism and types of population 9 . Also, the FM morphometry may be different from population because of genetic, environment and socio-economic factors 13 .…”

“…In briefly, in early fetal development, FM is the one of the centres of ossification and its shapes are variable because of evolutionary changes. The irregular shape of the FM might be a reason for developmental anomalies related to bones and soft tissues at the craniovertebral junction 9,13 . Because of the probability of the relationship presence between FM and cranial morphometry and morphology, the present study were planned.…”