Morphometric study of various foramina in the middle cranial fossa of the human skull

Purpose: To study the morphological details and analyse the morphometry of the various foramens in the dry human skulls of Indian population. Materials and Method: Sixty four dry skulls of unknown sex and of Indian origin were used in this study which was carried out at the Department of Anatomy and forensic medicine. The parameters used were incidence, longitudinal diameter, transverse diameter, distance from midline, distance from petrous apex, and distance between right and left foramen. Result: The mean sizes of the foramen ovale on the right and left sides were 7.45x1.1 mm and 7.61x1.15 mm. We found that completely ossified pterygospinous ligament passed immediately inferior to the foramen ovale and also presence of bony septa within the foramen. The foramen spinosum was present bilaterally in 90% of the skulls. The mean sizes on the right and left sides were 2.54x0.8 mm and 1.97x0.7 mm. Foramen Vesalius is one of the most inconsistent foramen of the skull. In this present study this foramen was present in only 25% of the studied skulls. Conclusion: Results shows comparison of mean and standard deviation of maximum dimensions of the right and left sided foramens of the middle cranial fossa. No statistically significant differences between both sides were observed except the carotid canal. The results of this study can be helpful for anatomists and surgeons who approach the middle cranial fossa for various procedures. Keywords: Foramina-Middle cranial fossa, Foramen rotundum, Foramen ovale, Foramen spinosum, Foramen of Vesalius