A morphometric study of foramen ovale in dried human skulls

Background: the foramina of the skull & the variations in their size & shape are of immense clinical significance due to the neurovascular structures that pass though them. the knowledge of these variations helps in the correct interpretation of radiographs& can help the surgeon in operating this area. aim: to study the morphological & morphometric details & variations in foramen ovale in dried human skulls. methods: fifty five adult human skulls were obtained from the bone bank of king edward medical university. the foramen ovale was examined to assess its length,breadth,shape & presence of any accessory bony structures like a spine,tubercle,bony plate or septum. the area of the foramen was calculated from the values obtained. results: in our study the shape of foramen ovale was oval in 72.7% on right & 74.5% on left side & was round in 16.3% on right & 12.7% on left side. a bony spine was present in 5 skulls,bony plate in 4 skulls & an osseous lamina in one skull. the mean length of foramen ovale on right side was 7.04+1.08& on the left side was 7.18±1.14. the mean width of the foramen on the right side was5.15±0.92 & left side was 3.99±0.86. conclusions: foramen ovale is subjected to a wide range of variations in size,shape & the presence of accessory bony structures from its margins. these variations might have profound surgical & diagnostic importance.