110 research outputs found
Accessory spine of the foramen ovale
The objective of this study was to provide a morphometrical analysis of the accessory spine which exists within the lumen of the foramen ovale, and to find out if that structure could mechanically irritate the mandibular nerve. A bifid spine was perceived in the macerated skull of an adult individual. It was located in the anterior part of the left foramen ovale. The overall length of the spine was measured as 1.8 mm. The spine has the homogenous structure, and show high level of mineralization. We conclude that the accessory spine did not compress the mandibular nerve, and the foramen ovale provided enough space for the nerve passage. Probably, these structures remained in anatomical accordance without causing any neurological symptoms
An anatomical study of the pterygoalar bar and the pterygoalar foramen
The paper presents anatomical considerations on the pterygoalar bar and the
pterygoalar foramen of the human skull. The pterygoalar bar is a bony bridge
that stretches between the lateral pterygoid lamina and the greater wing of the
sphenoid bone, while the space under this bar is termed the pterygoalar foramen.
These structures were noted in 5 out of 70 investigated skulls. The length
of the pterygoalar bar ranged from 4 to 8 mm, while the diameter of the pterygoalar
foramen ranged from 7 to 11 mm. The presence of the pterygoalar bar is
clinically important because it may disturb access to the foramen ovale during
anaesthesia of the trigeminal nerve
The scaphocephalic skull of an adult male
The paper presents abnormal craniofacial morphology of an adult male afflicted with premature closure of the sagittal suture. The skull is well preserved and there are no visible traits of surgical management which would be aimed to correctcranial deformation. In consequence of the restricted cranial development, some diameters of the skull were significantly altered. Basically, cranial vault morphology fits apparently to the scaphocephaly, whereas the basic ranium and viscerocranium are altered only in minor degree
A preliminary study of three-dimensional reconstruction of the human osseous labyrinth from micro-computed tomography scans
The adult human temporal bone was investigated using micro-CT scans. Various aspects of the osseous labyrinth were presented in figures which are effect of the volume rendering. The 3D reconstructions were performed to visualize the cochlea and the semicircular canals embedded in the petrous bone. The final product of this study was a digital three-dimensional model of the entire osseous labyrinth which can be viewed at different angles on the computer screen
Possible compression of the atlantal segment of the vertebral artery in occipitalisation
The current study evaluates the passage of the atlantal segment of the vertebral
artery through the atlas to the cranial cavity in the case of occipitalisation,
and searches for potential bony obstacles that constrict the lumen of the vertebral
artery.
Morphometric analysis was performed of the ossified atlanto-occipital articulation
of the dry adult male skull, particularly in the region of the posterior arch
of the atlas.
The distance between the floor of the right groove for the vertebral artery and
the occipital bone was measured using a digital sliding caliper. On the left side,
measurements of the diameters of the inlet and outlet of the canal for the
vertebral artery were performed using the same technique.
Fusion of the left portion of the posterior arch of the atlas with the occipital
bone caused significant narrowing of the space around the normally existing
groove for the vertebral artery, and converted it into the canal. The size of the
intracranial opening of the canal for the vertebral artery was measured as
3.8 mm x 4.7 mm, whereas the inlet to the canal was 5.4 mm x 7.0 mm. The
diameter of the canal decreases, particularly at the entrance into the cranial
cavity; therefore, compression of the vertebral artery within the canal seems to
be possible. (Folia Morphol 2011; 70, 4: 287–290
The ossified interclinoid ligament
The paper presents an anatomical description of the ossified interclinoid ligament
which was found in a male human skull. In the case studied the ossified
ligament exists as a bony bridge between the anterior and posterior clinoid
processes on the left side of the skull. The length of this connection was measured
as 5.0 mm, while its thickness was 3.2 mm. We conjecture that the presence
of a considerably thick bony trabecula within the sella region might have
had an impact on the course of the internal carotid artery or the oculomotor
nerve, causing compression of these structures
An atypical position of the foramen ovale
Visual inspection of a dry adult human skull revealed absence of a typical foramen
ovale on the left side of the cranial base. The region of the foramen ovale
was covered by an osseous lamina, which was continuous with the lateral pterygoid
plate and thus formed a wall of an apparent canal, which opened on the
lateral side of the pterygoid process. This canal is referred to as an oval canal
(canalis ovalis), instead of the foramen ovale. It runs superiorly, medially from
the infratemporal fossa, and opens into the middle cranial fossa. The altered
osseous morphology of this basicranial region may affect the course of the neurovascular
structures which pass through the foramen ovale. As a consequence,
clinical symptoms could occur, including paresthesiae of the inner aspect of the
cheek and compression and neuralgia of the mandibular nerve or its branches
Jugular phlebectasia presenting as globus pharyngeus
Even though much has been written on the aetiology of globus pharyngeus, itstill remains elusive and multifactorial. We present a case of a 54-year-old womanwho was referred by an orthopedist to the radiology department with a 6-dayhistory of an intense feeling of “pressure” and “tightness” in the jugular notch.After performing a contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan, a phlebectasiaof the right anterior jugular vein was discovered. When trying to determinethe cause of the globus sensation one has to consider the possible existence ofa phlebectasia of one of the jugular veins
The clinical significance of the petroclinoid ligament
This report describes the topography and structure of the petroclinoid ligament
with reference to its clinical significance. Observations of this ligament were performed on 24 sections of human heads. Remnants of the ossified form of this ligament were sought in 73 dry human skulls. It was found that the petroclinoid ligament existed as an anterior and posterior fold of the dura mater and stretched from the petrous apex and the anterior and posterior clinoid process respectively. We assessed the close proximity of this ligament to the oculomotor nerve. In one case we found a partially ossified posterior petroclinoid ligament,
which appeared as a bony spike that arose posteriorly and inferiorly from the posterior clinoid process
A case of occipitalization in the human skull
Occipitalization of the atlas is an osseous anomaly of the craniovertebral junction.
The aim of this paper is to present an anatomical variant of the fused atlas
with the occipital bone and discuss similar cases described in literature. The
skull of an adult male analysed in this study belonged to the cranial collection
of the Department of Anatomy of the Jagiellonian University, Medical Collage.
A tight bony fusion between the anterior arch of the atlas, the left portion of
the posterior arch, the lateral masses of the atlas, and the occipital bone was
observed. Hence, the left and right superior articular facets of the atlas were
fused with the corresponding occipital condyles. The anteroposterior dimension
of both inferior articular facets was the same (20 mm), while the transverse
diameter of the right one was considerably smaller (12 mm). The transverse
diameter of the left inferior articular facets was 17 mm. The right and the
left transverse process of the atlas were normally developed, each of them
contained transverse foramen, and they were not fused with the occipital bone.
The circumference of the foramen magnum was minimally diminished by the
osseous structures of the atlas fused to the occipital bone. The sagittal and
transverse diameters of the foramen magnum (38 mm x 34 mm) were within
the normal range of variation. However, the asymmetrical anatomy of the inferior
articular facets of the atlas give rise to speculation that movement in the
atlantoaxial joint was disturbed by assimilation with the occipital bone. (Folia
Morphol 2010; 69, 3: 134-137
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