Morphometry and CT measurements of useful bony landmarks of skull base

Vol. 52 No. 3 Suppl., 2011
This supplement was not sponsored by Outside Organizations.

ROMANIAN JOURNAL of MORPHOLOGY and EMBRYOLOGY

Biswabina Ray, K. V. Rajagopal, T. Rajesh, B. M. V. Gayathri, A. S. D'Souza, J. V. Swarnashri, Alok Saxena

Objective: Aim of this study was to determine the distance between Henle's spine (HS) on the temporal bone to the clinically important bony landmarks on the dry skulls that will act as a guide in various surgical procedures on skull base. Distances from the head of malleus (HOM) to surgically relevant landmarks were also studied on CT images. Materials and Methods: Thirty-nine adult preserved dry skulls were studied bilaterally. The parapetrosal triangle bounded by spinopterygoidal, bispinal and the midsagittal lines was identified. The location of the HS and its distance from the various important anatomical structures were measured. In addition, five CT images, where distances from the HOM to various anatomical landmarks were measured. Results: The mean and range of distances from the HS to various important anatomical landmarks on the spinopterygoidal line, bispinal line and in the parapetrosal triangle were tabulated. The mean and range of CT-based measurements of distances from HOM to other anatomical landmarks were also noted. Conclusions: The knowledge of unvarying relationship of the HS and the HOM to the various structures of the skull would assume significance while planning surgeries around the temporal bone by guiding the direction and degree of bone removal. Statistical differences between the two genders showed significant difference only in the distance between the HS to the medial margin of the external orifice of carotid canal. Therefore, these landmarks can also be applied as references for various surgeries of middle cranial fossa, as well as transpetrosal and transmastoid approaches.

Corresponding author: Biswabina Ray, Associate Professor, PhD, e-mail: biswabina@yahoo.co.in

Download PDF

ROMANIAN JOURNAL of MORPHOLOGY and EMBRYOLOGY

S. Chakravarthy Marx, S. Dhalapathy, C. Anitha Marx, M. Satish Babu, T. Pulakunta, Vasanthakumar

Purpose: The superficial branch of radial nerve (SBRN) is one of the cutaneous neves biopsied for diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy. The purpose of this study is to find out the cross sectional microanatomy of the (SBRN) at antecubital fossa for changes in the fascicular, non-fascicular components with respect to age and also to find cross sectional area of SBRN in healthy volunteers. Materials and Methods: Sixty SBRN were harvested bilaterally from 30 fresh human bodies (25 males and five females) with ages of 37 to 88 years. Samples were divided into three age groups (G1, 37-55 years; G2, 55-70 years; G3, >=71 years) and studied at different magnifications after histological processing for morphometric analysis - total cross-sectional (Asc), fascicular (Af), and non-fascicular area (Anonf). Fifteen volunteers SBRN cross sectional area was measured by ultrasonography (US). Results: The SBRN was found to have 2-6 fascicles. The differences in the adipose tissue (FAT) areas, between G1 and G2 (p=0.233) and between G2 and G3 (p=0.458) were not statistically significant. However, a significant difference was seen between G3 and G1 (p=0.021). The differences in the non-adipose tissue (FAT) areas, between G1 and G2 (p=0.110), between G2 and G3 (p=0.950) and between G3 and G1 (p=0.210) were not statistically significant. The amount of adipose tissue (FAT) in the epifascicular and interfascicular region increased in elderly individuals (age >=71 years). Ultrasonographic cross-sectional area ranged from 2 to 3 mm(2). Conclusions: Our study revealed comparatively more adipose tissue in human SBRN with advanced age (>=71 years). Findings may help to explain poor prognosis with advancing age following repair. SBRN ultrasonographical Asc was comparable to histological Asc in ages between 37-55 years.

Corresponding author: S. Chakravarthy Marx, PhD, e-mail: marxmanipal@gmail.com

Download PDF
Download cover
Download contents

Journal archive