Incidence of pterygospinous and pterygoalar bridges in dried skulls of Koreans / 대한해부학회지

Understanding of morphological structures such as the sphenoid spine and pterygoid processes is important during lateral transzygomatic infratemporal fossa approach. In addition, osseous variations such as pterygospinous and pterygoalar bridges are significant in clinical practice because they can produce various neurological disturbances or block the passage of a needle into the trigeminal ganglion through the foramen ovale. Two hundred and eighty-four sides of Korean adult dry skulls were observed to carry out morphometric analysis of the lateral plate of the pterygoid process, to investigate, for the first time among Koreans, the incidence of the pterygospinous and pterygoalar bony bridges, to compare the results with those available for other regional populations, and to discuss their clinical relevance as described on literatures. The mean of maximum widths of the left and right lateral plates of the pterygoid process were 15.99 mm and 16.27 mm, respectively. Also, the mean of maximum heights of the left and right lateral plates were 31.02 mm and 31.01 mm, respectively. The ossified pterygospinous ligament was observed in 51 sides of the skulls (28.0%). Ossification of the pterygospinous ligament was complete in four sides (1.4%). In 47 sides (16.6%), the pterygospinous bridge was incomplete. The ossified pterygoalar ligament was observed in 24 sides of the skulls (8.4%). Ossification was complete in eight sides (2.8%) and incomplete in 16 sides (5.6%). This detailed analysis of the lateral plate of the pterygoid process and related ossification of ligaments can improve the understanding of complex clinical neuralgias associated with this region.

Morphometric Study of the Retromolar Triangle and Foramen in Korean Mandibles / 체질인류학회지

It has been known that the retromolar foramen is a rare anatomic variation observed in the retromolar triangle, a small triangular shaped region posterior to the mandibular third molar. Due to the neurovascular bundle passing through the retromolar foramen, this anatomical structure must be kept in mind during surgical approaches regarding the retromolar area and mandible. Therefore, the authors investigated the morphology of retromolar triangle and the existence and location of retromolar foramen in Korean. And these results were compared with that of other races. We used 308 sides of 154 Korean dry mandibles, unknown gender and age. The retromolar triangle presented predominantly a triangular shape (84.1%), and the maximum height and width were 13.7 mm and 7.1 mm, respectively. In 144 of the 308 sides, the retromolar foramen was observed (46.8%). The existence of the retromolar foramen was seen the same frequency in both sides, and based on a midsagittal line of the retromolar triangle, the retromolar foramen located in more buccal side (75%) than lingual side. The mean distance between the retromolar foramen and the distal edge of the last tooth were found to be 10.3 mm and 6.9 mm, respectively for the second and third molars. According to the present study, the northeast Asians including Korean population show the highest rate of the incidence of the retromolar foramen than other races. The findings suggest that practitioners should take the retromolar foramen into account in surgical procedures involving the retromolar area to protect the patient from the complications such as bleeding or nerve damage.