Morphometric Study Of Bony Palate Among Dry Skulls Of South India Population

Background: Hard palate forms an important area in the skull, between the oral cavity and the nasal cavity. It isformed anteriorly by the palatine process of maxillae and posteriorly by the horizontal plates of palatine bonesof both sides, forming a cruciform suture in the midline. The hard palate play a crucial role in articulation ofspeech and any significant variations in its morphology may lead to alterations in the speech of an individual.Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on 50 dry skulls of unknown sex and age obtained fromthe department of Anatomy, K S Hegde Medical Academy, Mangaluru. Various morphometric measurments weretaken from the skull using digital vernier calipers.Results: The length, breadth and height of the hard palate was 50.45mm±2.86mm, 39.38mm±2.28mm and10.31mm±2.21mm respectively. The distance between the greater palatine foramen and middle maxillary suturewas 14.80mm±1.14mm on right and 14.83mm±1.08mm on left side. The position of greater palatine foramen in82% of the skulls was opposite 3rd molars and 18% was between 2nd and 3rd molars. The palatine index showedthat, 66% were Leptostaphyline, 18% were Mesostaphyline and 16% were Brachystaphyline The palatine heightindex showed that 56% were Chamestaphyline, and 44% were Orthostaphyline.Conclusion: The present study identifies the commonest location of greater palatine foramen to be opposite the3rd maxillary molars which is useful for clinicians to perform procedures on palate. The morphometry is usefulin comparing the skulls of various origin.

Cadaveric Study On Normal And Variant Anatomy Of Left Coronary Artery

Background: Human heart is supplied by coronary arteries – Right and Left coronary artery. The coronary arteriesarise from the aortic sinuses and the left coronary artery from the left posterior aortic sinus. The left coronaryartery has two branches, the anterior interventricular and circumflex arteries. The anterior interventricularbranch is the continuation of left coronary artery, gives off septal branches, right and left ventricular branches.The left ventricular branches are called diagonal arteries. The left circumflex artery gives off left atrial and leftventricular branches. One of these atrial branches supply the sinoatrial node in 35% of subjects and AV node in10-20% of the subjects.Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in the department of anatomy, Kasturba Medical College,Manipal, India. The study was performed on 50 formalin fixed human hearts of unknown sex and age. The leftcoronary artery and their branches were carefully dissected. The origin, branches & branching pattern of leftcoronary artery was observed, noted and photographed.Results: In present study, 49 samples (98%) showed the origin of left coronary artery from left posterior aorticsinus while 01 sample (02%) had no trunk of left coronary artery. Sino-atrial nodal artery was originating formcircumflex artery in 13 samples (26%) and atrio-ventricular nodal artery from the circumflex artery in 05samples (10%). The trunk of left coronary artery was bifurcating in 37 samples (74%) and trifurcating in 12samples (24%) with one sample (02%) showing absent trunk of left coronary artery. The median artery waspresent in 12 samples (24%) and posterior interventricular artery was originating from circumflex artery in 05samples (10%).Conclusion: Left coronary artery commonly originated from left posterior aortic sinus with very few variations.Sino-atrial nodal artery and atrioventricular nodal artery commonly originates from right coronary artery.Bifurcation of left coronary artery is commoner than trifurcation. The present study is useful in better understandingof the normal and variant anatomy of left coronary artery

Morphometric Study Of Pharyngeal Orifice Of Auditory Tube In South Indian Population

Auditory tube extends from the anterior wall of middle ear to the lateral wall of the nasopharynx at the level ofinferior turbinate. It plays an important role in maintaining the equilibrium of air. In the patients suffering fromchronic otitis media, the auditory tube plays an very important landmark for the endoscopic evaluation and fortransnasal approach to the infratemporal fossa. The present study was aimed to locate the pharyngeal orifice ofthe auditory tube in relation to the important anatomical landmarks. The study was carried out on 50 sagittalhead and neck sections of formalin fixed cadavers. The pharyngeal opening of auditory tube was looked for itsshape, size and position. The anatomical landmarks with reference to the pharyngeal opening of auditory tubetaken were posterior end of inferior turbinate, perpendicular distance from the clivus, from the roof of nasopharynx,from the posterior end of hard palate and from the anterior arch of atlas. The distance from these anatomicallandmarks to the pharyngeal orifice of auditory tube were measured using digital vernier calipers. The mean andstandard deviations of the distances were calculated and tabulated. The measured distances were slightlyhigher on the right than the left side. These differences were not statistically significant. The present study isuseful for otorhinolaryngologists to locate the position of pharyngeal opening of auditory tube endoscopicallyand evaluate patients with diseases of middle ear.