MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE JUGULAR FORAMEN IN ADULT HUMAN DRIED SKULL IN NORTH INDIA

Jugular foramen being difficult to approach surgically, a detailed morphological and anatomical knowledge of it is required. 100 dried adult human skulls were examined. The foramen was larger on right side in 74%, on left side in19% and equal in both sides in 7% cases. 68% skulls had complete septation on right and 21% on left side whereas 32% contained partial sepatation on right and 79% on left side respectively. Dome was found bilaterally, on right side only, on left side only and absent on both sides in 48%, 30%, 10% and 12% of the cases respectively. The mean±standard deviation of APD on the right and left sides were 6.92±1.53mm and 8.1±1.49 mm while the TVD measured 12.9±3.37 mm and 13.0±3.53 on the right and left respectively. APD was significantly greater on right side (p<0.0001) and showed significant positive correlation with that of left. Similar was the case with TVD.