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

Objectives: To determine the percentage and type of aortic arch variations in Indian subjects and their clinical and surgical importance and embryological basis.Patients and methods: In our investigation, branching patterns of the aortic arch were studied in 62 formalin-fixed cadavers of both sexes of Indian origin, aged 45-79. The dissections were carried out in formalin-preserved cadavers and the aortic arch variations were observed after exposing the thoracic and cervical region during routine dissection of undergraduate students of Indian origin in Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore.Results: The usual three-branched aortic arch was found in 56 cadavers (91.4%); variations were found in six cadavers (9.6%); 4.8% presented common origin of the carotid arteries; 1.6% had biinnominate sequence, and the same specimen had left coronary artery arising from arch of aorta directly; 1.6% presented right subclavian artery arising directly from the aorta; 1.6% had left vertebral artery a branch of aortic arch. Five out of six cadavers with anomalous aortic arch branching pattern were females. One male cadaver presented anomalous origin of left vertebral artery directly from the arch.Conclusion: The wide spectrum of variations in the anatomical arrangements of the aortic arch branches in the Indian population was at par with other populations of the world. Although anomalous origins of the aortic arch branches are merely anatomic variants, accurate information about them is vital for vascular surgery in the thorax, head and neck region.Key words: Aortic arch, vertebral artery, brachiocephalic trunk, variations. ResumoObjetivos: Determinar a porcentagem e o tipo de variações do arco aórtico em indivíduos indianos, bem como sua importância clí-nica e cirúrgica e base embriológica.Pacientes e métodos: Em nossa investigação, os padrões de ramificação do arco aórtico foram estudados em 62 cadáveres fixados em formalina de ambos os sexos, de origem indiana e com idade entre 45 e 79 anos. As dissecações foram realizadas em cadáveres preservados em formalina, e as variações do arco aórtico foram observadas após a exposição das regiões torácica e cervical durante a dissecação de rotina de alunos da graduação do Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Índia.Resultados: O arco aórtico normal de três ramificações foi encontrado em 56 cadáveres (91,4%); as variações foram encontradas em seis cadáveres (9,6%); 4,8% apresentavam origem comum das artérias carótidas; 1,6% tinham seqüência binominada, e o mesmo espécime tinha a origem da artéria coronária esquerda diretamente no arco aórtico; 1,6% apresentavam a origem da artéria subclávia direita diretamente na aorta; 1,6% tinham como ramificação do arco aórtico uma artéria vertebral esquerda. Cinco de seis cadáveres com padrão de ramificação anômalo do arco aórtico eram do sexo feminino. Um cadáver do sexo masculino apresentou origem anômala da artéria vertebral esquerda diretamente no arco.Conclusão: O amplo espectro de variações nos padrões anatômi-cos das ramificações do arco a...

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.