Anatomical Variations in Palmar Creases and Their Correlation to The Intelligence Capacity of Libyan Medical and Dental Students of Omar Al-Mukhtar University.

Background: For centuries, clinicians, anthropologists, and palmists have found the creases in the palm interesting. However, only in the last fifty years that research's started to examine the variations in these creases. Based on the three main palmar creases, thenar, proximal, and distal transverse creases, four patterns of palmar creases are identified; nonvariant, Sydney, Suwon, and simian. Previous studies of palmar creases revealed that familial components, race, sex, and age are factors that influence the expression of palmar crease patterns. Simian patterns of palmar creases are linked to various congenital diseases, some characterized by low level of intelligence. Aim: This paper aims to investigate the variations in palmar crease patterns among medical and dental students of Omar Al-Mukhtar University and to study the range of intelligence capacity associated with each pattern. Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 183 students. A paper-based IQ test was performed and photos were taken from both palms of all participants. Results: Out of 183 participants, the nonvariant pattern of palmar creases was found in 92%, in which, 100 students have bilateral 2 points of origin palmar creases and 48 students have bilateral 3 points of origin palmar creases, whereas 18 participants have one palm of 2 points and the other palm of 3 points of origin. Unilateral simian was the dominant type in the aberrant palmar creases, followed by bilateral Sydney, then unilateral Sydney, and Suwon. Conclusion: The students with unilateral simian have the highest average score of 47.166 followed by bilateral nonvariant and unilateral nonvariant. Students with unilateral Sydney have the lowest average score of 41

Morphometric Analysis of the Mental Foramen in Libyan Population Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

Introduction: The mental foramen is a significant anatomical landmark through which the mental nerve passes. The mental nerve is a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve that innervates the buccal vestibule anterior to the first mandibular molar, the lower lip, and the gums. There is evidence that race affects the location of the mental foramen. Thus, the purpose of this study was to collect data regarding the position and other relevant parameters of the mental foramen in the mandibles of the Libyan people.Material and method: Cone beam computer tomography (CBCT) scans of 106 Libyan patients who attended the dental office (49 of them were men and 57 were women). Two calibrated examiners analyzed each scan. All the data underwent statistical analysis and results were obtained.Results: Mental foramen was present bilaterally in all patients. The most common position of MF in our study was P3 (52.8%) 'below the 2nd premolar'. The next common position was P2 i.e., between the premolars (24.5%). The mean vertical diameters were 3.15±0.78 mm on the right and 3.46±0.86 mm on the left sides whereas the mean horizontal diameters were 3.45±1.08 mm and 3.85±1.27 mm on the right and left sides respectively. The average distance between MF and the alveolar margin of the mandible (Distance A) was 13.77 ± 2.42 mm on the right side and 13.57 ± 2.21 mm on the left side, with males slightly higher than females. While the distance between the MF and the lower border of the mandible (Distance B) was 12.63 ± 1.72 mm on the right side and 12.23 ± 1.68 mm on the left side, with males exhibiting a greater distance than females.Conclusion: Understanding the morphometry of MF is very important. Therefore, our research may offer essential information about MF in the Libyan population, which may be helpful to anesthetists, neurosurgeons, and dental surgeons performing nerve blocks and surgical procedures such as periodontal, implant placement, or apical curettage of mandibular premolars.Keywords: Mental foramen, Vertical diameter, Horizontal diameter, Mental nerve.Abbreviation: MF (mental foramen); CBCT (cone-beam computed tomography); VD (vertical diameter); HD (horizontal diameter); SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences)

The Prevalence of Absence of the Palmaris Longus Muscle among Medical Students in Benghazi, Libya

Palmaris longus muscle (PL) is one of the most superficial flexor muscles of the forearm. It is slender and fusiform in shape which lies medial to flexor carpi radialis muscle. It exhibits variability in its prevalence across various ethnicities and geographical areas. Six hundred sixty medical students (275 males, 385 females) aged between 17 to 25 years were included after their consent and examined for the prevalence of absence of the PL muscle tendon. Each student was initially asked to do the Schaeffer‘s test if not visible then simultaneously followed by Thompson‘s test and Pushpakumar‘s "two-finger sign" for the assessment of the PL tendon. 660 medical students in Benghazi-Libya. The overall absence of palmaris longus was seen in 163 students (24.7%) 56 of whom were males (20.4%) and 107 of whom were females (27.8%). Palmaris longus was found absent unilaterally in 14.85% of the students and bilaterally in 9.85% of the students. In comparison to males (20.4%), females had a somewhat higher prevalence of Palmaris longus absent (27.8%). Palmaris longus was absent in 6.52% (43 students) on the right side and in 8.33% (55 students) on the left side. The left-side agenesis was seen in 34 females (8.8%) and 21 males (7.6%). The right-side agenesis was seen in 28 females (7.3%) and 15 males (5.5%). Out of 65 (9.8%) bilateral agenesis, 45 (11.7%) were females and 20 (7.3%) were males. PL muscle is very useful in plastic and orthopedic surgeries. Overall, the palmaris longus was absent in 24.7% of the entire sample. It is possible to carry out more research to determine the relationship between the palmaris longus muscle and several factors including hand dominance, ethnicity, etc