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