Study of variation in atypical foramina of dry human skull.

ABSTRACT

Foramina or openings in the skull are very important as they allow passage of important structures likes nerves and blood vessels through them. Various people have studied variations in foramina as these variants have been found to be related to many disease states, which can be either acquired or inherited. Out of various skull foramina, we studied three atypical foramina named lacrimal, emissary sphenoidal & parietal in 103 dried human skulls. We looked for their presence unilaterally/bilaterally, their numbers, dimension and comparison bilaterally. Lacrimal foramen was absent bilaterally in 41% of the skulls while present unilaterally in 29% with an average size of 0.86 mm. Emissary sphenoidal foramen was absent bilaterally in 49%of the skulls, present unilaterally in 20% with an average size of 0.87 mm. When compared bilaterally 11% of the skulls showed difference of more than 0.5mm in emissary sphenoidal foramen while it was multiple in 2% of the skulls studied. Parietal foramen was absent bilaterally in 20% of the skulls while it was present unilaterally in 29% with an average size of 0.91 mm. When compared bilaterally 15% of the skulls had difference of more than 0.5mm.The foramen studied showed variation in different parameters observed which might be due to genetic, nutritional, environmental differences or some disease conditions. Knowledge of presence and variation in its anatomical parameter can be crucial for surgeons and anesthetists.