An Anatomical Study Of Foramen Ovale With Clinical Implications

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Foramen ovale is one of the important foramen found in the greater wing of the sphenoid bone. Thestructures passing through the foramen are mandibular nerve, accessory meningeal artery, lesser petrosal nerveand emissary vein.The shape of the foramen is oval in shape. An anatomical study of the foramen was done tonote the size and shape of the foramen ovale.Material and methods: The study was done 50 human dry skull of unknown sex and age. The anterior posteriordiameter and transverse diameter was measured by a divider and meter scale.Result: The maximum anterior posterior diameter was found to 9.8mm on right side and 9.6mm on left side. Themaximum transverse diameter was found to be 4.6mm on right side and 4.7mm on left side. The mean anteriorposterior diameter on right is 7.11±1.688 and on the left was 6.53±1.333. The mean transverse diameter of theforamen on right was 3.148±0.686 and on the left was 3.2±0.678. The foramen ovale was found to be symmetricin 14% of the skulls. The shape of the foramen was found to be oval in 70%, almond in 18%, rounded in 8% andtriangular in 4%.Conclusion: The variation of the foramen ovale has a great clinical and surgical significance to the neurosurgeons and physicians before exploring the middle cranial fossa. It will help in diagnosis and treatment ofvarious vascular tumors and aneurysms