RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To determine the morphology and the locations of the SupraOrbital Notch/Foramen (SON/F), InfraOrbital Foramen (IOF), and Mental Foramen (MF) relative to frequently encountered surgical landmarks. MATERIAL AND METHOD: One hundred and six Thai adult skulls were investigated. RESULTS: Mean horizontal widths of SON, SOF, IOF and MF were 4.31 +/- 1.61 mm, 2.81 +/- 0.62 mm, 3.35 +/- 0.62 mm and 2.80 +/- 0.70 mm, respectively. The SON/F was situated 25.14 +/- 4.29 mm lateral to the nasal midline, 26.57 +/- 3.92 mm medial to the temporal crest of the frontal bone and 3.15 +/- 1.29 mm superior to the supraorbital rim. The IOF was 28.43 +/- 2.29 mm lateral to the maxillary midline, 9.23 +/- 2.03 mm below the infraorbital rim and 2.15 +/- 1.67 mm medial to the zygomaticomaxillary suture. Mean vertical distances from the IOF to the SOF and to occlusal plane of the upper teeth were 44.95 +/- 2.96 mm and 42.52 +/- 3.89 mm, respectively. The IOF was frequently found in the same vertical line with the second upper premolar and its usual direction of opening pointed downward medially. The MF was a mean of 28.52 +/- 2.15 mm lateral to the symphysis menti and most commonly observed in line with the second lower premolar. Its usual direction of opening was in a posterosuperior direction. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study may assist surgeons to localize important maxillofacial neurovascular bundles passing through these foramina in facilitating surgical, local anesthetic and other invasive procedures.