A sphenoid with multiple developmental variations

In a study of 156 skulls the interior of one particular skull showed many additional foramina on the sphenoid bone, one large foramen almost on the centre of sella turcica (0.64%) (the large craniopharyngeal canal); a second foramen on the inferomedial angle of the optic canal (the lateral craniopharyngeal canal), which were also present in 2 more skulls (2.56%); and two large foramina Vesalii on each side. In addition the sphenoid showed some morphological changes such as a hypoplastic left lesser wing; the upper parts of the greater wings were formed by separate bones; all sutures of the sphenoid were coarse, irregular and had tiny sutural bones. This skull also had another large foramen at the confluence of sinuses, also seen in 11 more skulls (7.7%), a large foramen caecum, a large posterior condylar foramina and a foramen in the left sigmoid sinus groove. Knowledge of these additional foramina and variations are important for radiologists, endocrinologists, neurosurgeons and anthropologists.