Accessory Foramina in the Body of Sphenoid Bone

An accessory foramen was observed in the body of the sphenoid bone in the middle cranial fossa of a base of dried skull while teaching the under-graduates. The foramen extended from the body of sphenoid bone to the sphenoid air sinus but did not communicate with the nasopharynx. This prompted the present investigation that was done on 95 bases of skulls and16 individual sphenoid bones for the presence of accessory foramen in body of sphenoid bone. It was found that accessory foramina varying in size, number and location were present in body of 15 sphenoid bones. The large foramina probably result either due to a persistent craniopharyngeal canal or developmental defects during ossification of the sphenoid bone .The small foramina are probably vascular. The knowledge of these foramina may be important to the radiologists, endocrinologists and anthropologists.