MORPHOLOGICAL AND MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF FORAMEN MAGNUM IN DRY HUMAN SKULLS OF KASHMIR

Berjina Farooq Naqshi; Shaheen Shahdad; Nida Kawoosa; Adil Bashir Shah

Volume : VI, Issue : VIII, August - 2017

MORPHOLOGICAL AND MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF FORAMEN MAGNUM IN DRY HUMAN SKULLS OF KASHMIR

Berjina Farooq Naqshi, Shaheen Shahdad, Nida Kawoosa, Adil Bashir Shah

Abstract :

INTRODUCTION: Morphological and morphometric analysis of foramen magnum of dry human skulls in Kashmir was done which is helpful in ruling out compression in diseases associated with foramen magnum like meningiomas and herniations. Morphometric evaluation can be used before heading towards costly examination.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: The present study was conducted on 15 skulls and 10 occipital bones. Anteroposterior and transverse diameters were measured using a digital vernier calliper. Their knowledge is important in malformations like Arnold Chiari syndrome, in which transverse diameter of foramen magnum is more than the anteroposterior diameter. The area and width of the foramen were calculated using formulae.

RESULTS: The average anteroposterior diameter and transverse diameter of foramen magnum were 3.16 � 0.216cm and 2.65 � 0.212 cm respectively. The average area and index of the foramen magnum were calculated as 6.60� 0.9cm and 83.64�5.71 cm respectively.

CONCLUSION: The present study on the foramen magnum showed that the average anteroposterior diameter of foramen magnum was more than the transverse diameter. These findings are of use to neurosurgeons, forensic experts and anatomists. Morphological study is also a valuable tool to assess the malformations of foramen magnum.