Anatomical Observation of Different Shapes of Foramen Magnum and Its Clinical Implications: A Study in Dry Adult Human Skulls of Indian Population

Background: Understanding of thoroughly explained anatomical basis is must for various surgical approaches at the craniovertebral junction. High mortality and morbidity are anticipated during the surgical procedures when undertaken without in depth anatomical knowledge. With so much clinical importance in this area, our study will present a thorough understanding in terms of skull. Objectives: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the various shapes of foramen magnum in dry adult human skulls of Indian population and to find out their clinical correlation. Materials and methods: 347 dried adult human skull base obtained from the Department of Anatomy, Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan and other medical colleges were used in the present study. All the dry adult human skulls were observed from outer side at their base by naked eyes to determine the shape of foramen magnum. It was classified into one of the following shapes: - Oval, round, tetragonal, egg shaped, hexagonal, pentagonal and irregular. Results: The shape of the foramen magnum in dry skulls were oval in 44.95%, round in 30.84%, hexagonal in 9.23%, irregular in 6.63%, pentagonal in 5.19%, tetragonal in 1.73 %, and egg shaped in 1.44%. Conclusion: Inferences of the present study in the form of variations in the shapes of foramen magnum will be useful to the neurosurgeons, radiologists, orthopedics, anthropologists, forensic experts as well as anatomists. Further these data can be used as an anatomical reference for the researchers.