According to the results of the present study, styloid process elongation is more common in older adults with no correlation to gender. In addition, menopause had no effect on the calcification or elongation of the stylohyoid chain. The sum of the elongated SP and the calcified stylohyoid ligament was 28.8 %.

The superior thyroid artery (STA) is the dominant arterial supply of the thyroid gland, upper larynx and the neck region. The knowledge of variations in possible patterns of origin, courses, and branching pattern of the STA is also important for surgical procedures in the neck region, such as emergency cricothyroidotomy, radical neck dissection, catheterization, reconstruction of aneurysm and carotid endarterectomy. The surgical anatomy of the STA was studied in 20 adult Anatolian preserved cadavers between the age of 40 and 70 years. The outer diameter of the STA origin was observed to be 3.53 +/- 1.17 mm. The location of the origin of the STA according to the carotid bifurcation was evaluated as above (25%), below (35%) and at the same level (40%). The distribution patterns of the STA were classified into six types depending on the branching pattern. The outer diameter of the infrahyoid branch, superior laryngeal artery, sternocleidomastoid artery and cricothyroid branch at their origins were observed to be 1.13 +/- 0.14, 1.42 +/- 0.47, 1.54 +/- 0.96 and 1.30 +/- 0.41 mm, respectively. Typical and variant glandular branching patterns were observed in 85 and 15% of the specimens, respectively. The outer diameters of anterior, anteromedial, anterolateral and posterior glandular branches were measured as 2.05 +/- 0.46, 1.41 +/- 0.43, 1.51 +/- 0.41 and 1.73 +/- 0.53 mm, respectively. It is necessary to understand the surgical anatomy of the STA to carry out successful radical neck dissection and to minimize postoperative complications in a bloodless surgical field.

The foramen magnum (FM) has a vital importance to have a direct view of the vertebral artery, lower cranial nerves, and the brainstem. The morphologic analysis of the FM was studied in 352 occipital bones of adult human skulls by 3D-Doctor V 3.5.050402 Demo version. The perimeter and area of the FM were calculated as 115.6 (SD, 9.9) mm and 829 (SD, 137.7) mm(2), respectively. The FM index was found as 84.02%, and the majority (38.4%) of holes were observed to have a narrow index.The FM was observed to 8 different types. The most frequently observed types were the tetragonal type in 25.66%, and the one formed by the combination of 2 semicircles in 23.28%. The large anterior margin of the FM type, such as types 1, 4, 5, and 6, can be easily performed partially. In the cases of types 2, 3, and 8, the anterior margin was determined as narrow, the resection procedure is completed with more difficulty. In Pearson correlation analysis, it is significant that a statistically strong relation was found between the area and perimeter, and the area and length of FM. This findings suggest that the resection should be started at the anterior margin, just lateral and then extended superolaterally.

The differences in the course and shape of the internal carotid artery (ICA) in the parapharyngeal space were investigated to determine the possible risks for serious hemorrhage during tonsillectomy, drainage of peritonsillar abscess, soft palate injuries, adenoidectomy and velopharyngeoplasty. The course of the ICA was studied in the parapharyngeal spaces of 50 adult cadavers. From each specimen, circumferential sections were obtained and they stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Verhoeff's elastic staining. The cervical course of the ICA showed no curvature in 70 cases; but in 25 cases it had a medial curve, and five cases showed kinking out of a total 100 dissected carotid sheaths. In two cases, kinking of the ICA was related to the pharyngeal wall. The histological examination of all kinking specimens demonstrated depletion and decreasing muscle tissue in tunica media and an increase was observed in vasa vasorum numbers in the tunica adventitia of ICA. The dissections and integrity losses were seen in tunica media and tunica adventitia. The vessel wall of histological structure change were detected in kinking specimens and lays the groundwork for the vessel wall to get easily harmed or torn either directly or indirectly by decreasing the elasticity and soundness of the wall. The transposition of the ICA artery in submucous position becomes important for otorhinolaryngologists when its aberrant course causes a widening in the retropharyngeal or parapharyngeal tissues and an impression on the pharyngeal wall. Curving and kinking of the ICA can constitute a risk factor for acute hemorrhage in routine surgical procedures, which are performed by inexperienced surgeons.

The occipital condyle (OC) is an important area in craniovertebral surgery, but neither its anatomical features nor the procedures concerning the OC have been detailed yet. The morphological analysis of the structures were made in totally 704 sides of the occipital bones of adult skulls by 3D-Doctor Demo version. The length and width of the OC were found to be 23.9 ± 3.4 (right), 24 ± 3.3 (left) and 11.9 ± 2.3 (right), 10.7 ± 2.3 mm (left), respectively. The mean anterior intercondylar distance and the posterior intercondylar distance were measured as 20.9 ± 3.6 and 43.1 ± 4 mm, respectively. The sagittal intercondylar angle was observed as 68.7 ± 10.6º. The sagittal condylar angle was observed to be 32.9 ± 7.6º and 38.2 ± 7.3º in the right and left, respectively. The head circumference was observed to be 65.6 ± 7.8 and 64.4 ± 7.2 mm in the right and left, respectively. The head area was measured as 231.9 ± 53.3 and 214.9 ± 45.1 mm² in the right and left, respectively. The most common type was oval-like (59.67%), whereas the most unusual one was two-portioned condyle (0.32%). In Pearson correlation analysis, it was significant that a statistically strong relation was noticed between the length and area, and the circumference and area. The findings suggest that the oval type was more successful to work with, while the triangular, circular and two-portioned types were highly risky for the fixation resonance as the surface got quite smaller. As a result, we suggest that by resecting nearly half of the OC, the border of the hypoglossal canal can be involved.