ABSTRACT
Background: Understanding of thoroughly explained anatomical basis is must for various surgical approaches at the craniovertebral junction. High mortality and morbidity are anticipated during the surgical procedures when undertaken without in depth anatomical knowledge. With so much clinical importance in this area, our study will present a thorough understanding in terms of skull. Objectives: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the various shapes of foramen magnum in dry adult human skulls of Indian population and to find out their clinical correlation. Materials and methods: 347 dried adult human skull base obtained from the Department of Anatomy, Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan and other medical colleges were used in the present study. All the dry adult human skulls were observed from outer side at their base by naked eyes to determine the shape of foramen magnum. It was classified into one of the following shapes: - Oval, round, tetragonal, egg shaped, hexagonal, pentagonal and irregular. Results: The shape of the foramen magnum in dry skulls were oval in 44.95%, round in 30.84%, hexagonal in 9.23%, irregular in 6.63%, pentagonal in 5.19%, tetragonal in 1.73 %, and egg shaped in 1.44%. Conclusion: Inferences of the present study in the form of variations in the shapes of foramen magnum will be useful to the neurosurgeons, radiologists, orthopedics, anthropologists, forensic experts as well as anatomists. Further these data can be used as an anatomical reference for the researchers.
ABSTRACT
Background: Human heart is supplied by the right coronary artery (RCA) and left coronary artery (LCA). Both these arteries vary in their origin, number, area of distribution, diameter, as well as in their length. Aims and Objectives: The present study was conducted to measure the segmental as well as total lengths of LCA and RCA in the aborted human fetal hearts to find any correlation between the advancement of the gestational age (GA) and change in the length of coronary arteries and to find any statistically significant difference among various parameters between the male and female fetus. Materials and Methods: Fetal hearts were dissected out from 30 formalin-fixed aborted human fetuses after obtaining due permission from the Institutional Ethical Committee. In each heart, both the coronary arteries were cleared from its commencement from the corresponding coronary sinus to its termination at the crux of heart. Each coronary artery was divided into three segments using 4 points over their course and length of each segment was measured. Results: Mean lengths of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd segment of RCA were 3.58 mm, 11.73 mm, and 15.54 mm, respectively. Mean total length of RCA was 30.85 mm. Mean lengths of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd segment of LCA were 14.56 mm, 16.9 mm, and 23.2 mm, respectively. Mean total length of LCA was 54.66 mm. Statistically significant positive correlation was found between fetal GA and length of 3rd segment of RCA in male fetus, total length of RCA in male fetus, length of 1st segment of LCA in male fetus, total length of LCA in male fetus, as well as length of 1st segment of LCA in female fetus. Statistically significant association was found between male and female fetus in regard to length of 2nd segment of RCA as well as total length of RCA. Conclusion: Statistically significant positive correlation between fetal GA and various segments of RCA and LCA is suggestive of continuous growth of coronary vasculature as the fetal GA advances.