STUDIES ON THE SYMMETRY OF FORAMEN OVALE,FORAMEN SPINOSUM AND FORAMEN OF VESALIUS ON EXTERNAL BASAL SURFACE OF THE MIDDLE CRANIAL FOSSA:Ⅱ.ANALYSIS OF CORRELATIONS / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Analysis of correlations between the three-dimensional values of foramina seenfrom external basal surface of the middle cranial fossa,and their three-dimensionalvalues with the metrical figures of the foramen ovale in 4 major subtypes of theskull were carried out in 100 male adult skulls collected from Shanghai vicinity.Thecephalometric observations of foramen ovale including linear and angular measure-ments had been reported previously in part one of this study.The data obtained inthe present paper showed that significant correlation existed only in some itemsamong our analysis.These involve the angle between the sagital plane and the longdiameter of the foramen ovale and the foramen spinosum preferentially.Furthermore,the left side revealed to be more concerned.According to the results obtained totally from our studies together With those ofothers,it seemed to us that the foramina on external basal surface of the middlecranial fossa would not be considered as symmetrically positioned.Therefore,it isreasonable to conclude that certain aspects of asymmetry in human skull do existvirtually,in accordance with the mechanical influence of the masticatory apparatusfrom the different side and the morphological asymmetries of the human beings,inc-luding the vascular or nerve structures passing through these foramina are concerned.Some practical considerations of our results are commented and suggested.