Microsurgical anatomy of optic canal in Chinese adults / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective 　To investigate the anatomic characteristics of optic canal in chinese adults. Methods　Twenty chinese cadaveric speciments fixed in formalin of chinese patients without intracranial and intraorbital disease. We measured the width and height of the intracranial opening and the intraorbital opening of the optic canal of all cases. The length of roof, floor, medial and lateral wall of the optic canal, and the width, the height of the middle protion were also measured after unroofing the canal with high-speed drilling. The degree of pneumatization of ethmoidal and sphenoidal sinuses was recorded. Results　The intracranial opening of the optic canal was a horizontal oval shape. The width of it was (5.05±0.42) mm and the height was (4.61±0.27) mm. The length of optic roof, optic floor, medial wall and lateral wall of the optic canal was (9.67±1.51) mm, (5.41±0.84) mm, (9.58±0.72) mm and (9.26±0.66) mm, respectively. The intraorbital opening of the optic canal was a vertical oval shape, the height and width of it was (5.30±0.64) mm and (5.62±0.83) mm respectively. Conclusions　The wall of the optic canal is thinner and there is a narrow portion in the middle of it. Depending on the degree of the pneumatization of sphenoidal and ethmoidal sinus, three types were divided into 1. reversal U shape, 2. C shape, 3. D shape. The dura fold of the optic canal is long and its edge is sharp.