The Morphometric Study for the Rolandic Fissure

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to characterize the Rolandic fissure(Rf) and was to identify the Rf using the surface bony landmarks which can be usually exposed on craniotomy. METHODS: After morphological evaluation of the Rfs using 21 Korean adult formalin fixed cadavers, craniometric measurement was carried out from the surface bony landmarks of nasion, glabella, bregma, and lambda. RESULTS: The Rfs of both hemispheres did not show the mirror image. The Rfs ran forward and downward toward the sylvian fissure keeping the mean angle of 67degrees from mid-sagittal line as elongated S-shape in left and the elongated reverse S-shape in right hemisphere. Connections between the Rf and the longitudinal fissure and between the Rf and the sylvian fissure were found in 3 (7.1%) and 2 (4.8%) of 42 hemispheres, respectively. Most Rfs extended superiorly to 2-3mm lateral to the most superomedial surface of hemispheres and extended inferiorly to 3-5mm superior to the sylvian fissures. The mean distances from the nasion, glabella, bregma, and lambda to the most superomedial aspect of the Rf were 18.8+/-0.9cm, 16.6+/-0.8cm, 5.2+/-0.6cm, and 6.9+/-1.0cm, respectively. The mean distance measured between the Rf and the nasion using traditional method was 18.4+/-0.6cm. CONCLUSION: The distance between the Rf and the nasion roughly correspond within the range of mean 4 mm compared with that measured by the traditional measurement. These data may be more helpful to delineate the Rf after the placement of drapes for craniotomy.