AIM:The objectives were to study the morphology of the foramen magnum in dry skulls and to evaluate its antero-posterior diameter, transverse diameter and the foramen magnum index. MATeRIAL and MeTHods:The foramen magna of 53 dry human cadaver skulls that were obtained from the neuroanatomy laboratory were examined. Different shapes of the foramen magnum were macroscopically noted and classified. The antero-posterior and transverse diameters were measured and the average foraminal index was calculated. ResULTs:The foramen magnum shapes were determined as a round shape in 22.6% of cases, egg shape in 18.9%, tetragonal in 18.9%, oval in 15.1%, irregular in 15.1%, hexagonal in 5.6% and pentagonal in 3.8% of the cases. In 20.7% of skulls, the occipital condyle was observed to protrude into the foramen. The mean antero-posterior and transverse diameter of the foramen magnum was determined as 31 ± 2.4 mm and 25.2 ± 2.4 mm respectively. The average foramen magnum index was 1.2 ± 0.1. CoNCLUsIoN:The present study has determined the various shapes of foramen magnum and its morphometry. The data obtained may be of useful to the neurosurgeon in analyzing the morphological anatomy of craniovertebral junction. The findings are also enlightening for the anthropologists, morphologists and clinical anatomists. BULGULAR:Foramen magnum şekilleri vakaların %22,6'sında yuvarlak, %18,9'unda yumurta şekilli, %18,9'unda tetragonal, %15,1'inde oval, %15,1'inde düzensiz, %5,6'sında ekstragonal ve %3,8'inde pentagonaldi. Kafataslarının %20,7'sinde oksipital kondilin foramene doğru çıkıntı yaptığı gözlendi. Foramen magnumun ortalama anteroposterior ve transvers çapı sırasıyla 31±2,4 mm ve 25,2±2,4 mm olarak belirlendi. Ortalama foramen magnum indeksi 1,2±0,1 bulundu. soNUÇ: Mevcut çalışma foramen magnumun çeşitli şekilleri ve morfometrisini belirlemiştir. Elde edilen veriler nörocerraha kraniyovertebral bileşke morfolojik anatomisini analiz etmek açısından faydalı olabilir. Bulgular ayrıca antropologlar, morfologlar ve klinik anatomistler için faydalıdır.ANAHTAR sÖZCÜKLeR: Foramen magnum, Morfoloji, Morfometri, Şekil, Kafatası

INTRODUCTIONGeneral surgeons dealing with laparoscopic herniorrhaphy should be aware of the aberrant obturator artery that crosses the superior pubic ramus and is susceptible to injuries during dissection of the Bogros space and mesh stapling onto Cooper’s ligament. The obturator artery is usually described as a branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery, although variations have been reported.MATERIALS AND METHODSThe present study was conducted on 98 pelvic halves of embalmed cadavers, and the origin and course of the obturator artery were traced and noted.RESULTSIn 79% of the specimens, the obturator artery was a branch of the internal iliac artery. It branched off at different levels either from the anterior division or posterior division, individually or with other named branches. In 19% of the cases, the obturator artery branched off from the external iliac artery as a separate branch or with the inferior epigastric artery. However, in the remaining 2% of the specimens, both the internal and the external iliac arteries branched to form an anastomotic structure within the pelvic cavity.CONCLUSIONThe data obtained in this study show that it is more common to find an abnormal obturator artery than was reported previously, and this observation has implications for pelvic surgeons and is of academic interest to anatomists. Surgeons dealing with direct, indirect, femoral, or obturator hernias need to be aware of these variations and their close proximity to the femoral ring.

BackgroundThe supratrochlear foramen (STF) of the humerus has been a neglected entity in standard anatomy and orthopaedics text-books. The knowledge of the presence of STF in a humerus may be important for preoperative planning for treatment of supracondylar fractures. The presence of STF may also result in erroneous interpretation of radiographs.MethodsThe STF was studied in detail in 384 (220 left side and 164 right side) human dried humeri of unknown sex and age. The topographical anatomy of the STF was studied in detail, morphometric measurements were taken, and the specimens were photographed. The humerus was also taken for radiological assessment of the STF and supratrochlear septum.ResultsOut of the 384 bones studied, 132 cases (34.3%) showed the presence of STF. The STF was oval, round, and triangular in shape in 123, 7, and 2 cases, respectively. The mean length of the transverse diameter for supratrochlear foramen was 6.55 mm and 5.99 mm on the left and right sides, respectively. The mean length of the vertical diameter for STF was 4.85 mm and 3.81 mm on the left and right sides, respectively. Most of the bones that had no STF showed a translucency of septum, in 56.7% of the bones.ConclusionsThe results of our study show that STF is more common on the right side, with the oval shape being more common. The respective sides did not exhibit any statistical significant differences. Presence of STF may be important for anthropological, clinical, and academic purpose.

Kiloh-Nevin syndrome caused by compressive neuropathy of the anterior interosseous nerve in the forearm is believed to occur because of its compression by the accessory head of flexor pollicis longus (FPLah). Gantzer described two accessory muscles, the more frequent is the FPLah and the less frequently observed is the flexor digitorum profundus accessory head (FDPah). Many studies have reported the prevalence, origin, insertion, nerve supply, and relations of these accessory muscles, most of them focusing on the FPLah. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence, morphology, relation to median and anterior interosseous nerve, and also the coexistence of both the accessory heads. A total of 126 upper limbs of the embalmed cadavers were examined in this study. Fifty-eight limbs (46.03%) showed the presence of the FPLah and 18 limbs (14.28%) had the FDPah. The most common origin of both the accessory muscle bellies was from the under surface of the flexor digitorum superficialis. The FPLah inserted into the FPL muscle at varying levels with 80% inserting into the proximal third of FPL, whereas the FDPah in all cases ended near the level of the wrist joining with one or more tendons of the FDP. Clinical implication of the variation is discussed.