Anat Cell Biol.  2024 Jun;57(2):213-220. 10.5115/acb.23.218.

Morphological analysis of the jugular foramen in dry human skulls in northeastern Brazil

• Rodrigues RR
• Neto DFdN
• Fernandes JVA
• Barreto LdO
• Amaral VBMd
• Deca DKdA
• Figueiredo VLFdA
• Lucena JDd
• Silva IBd
• Sales THdA
• Oliveira AdSB

• KMID: 2556565
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.23.218

Abstract

The jugular foramen (JF) is located between the temporal and occipital bones. The JF is a primary pathway for venous outflow from the skull and passage of nerves. Variations are common in this region and may have clinical and surgical implications. To analyze the sexual dimorphism and JF morphology in skulls from Northeastern Brazil. 128 human skulls from the Anatomy Laboratory of the Federal University of Paraíba, 64 male and 64 female, were selected and the JFs analyzed for bone septation and the presence of a dome. Data analysis considered P<0.05 as significant. On at least one side, complete septation was observed in 26 skulls (20.3%), incomplete septation in 93 skulls (72.6%) and 61 skulls (47.6%) did not present septation. In 114 skulls (89%), 47.6% female and 41.4% male, have a unilateral presence of the dome and 71 (55.4%) have it bilaterally. Posterolateral compartment diameters and JF area had higher values on the right side in the total sample and separated by sex (P<0.05). Most morphometric variables of the anteromedial compartment were higher in male than in female (P<0.05), fact that was not observed in the posterolateral compartment (P>0.05). This study showed a higher prevalence of complete septation in males compared to females. Morphometric analysis presented a peculiar morphology of the JF in this study. These results suggests that the surgical approach to diseases that affect the JF may be peculiar to the studied population, confirming the importance of morphological analysis of the skull base.

Keyword

Anatomy; Skull; Brazil; Jugular foramen

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Linear measurements of the jugular foramen (JF). (A) a: Anteroposterior diameter (APD) of the anteromedial compartment of the JF; b: APD of the posterolateral compartment of the JF. (B) c: Lateromedial diameter (LMD) of the anteromedial compartment of the JF; d: LMD of the posterolateral compartment of the JF. Total LMD=c+d.

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  Fig. 2 Types of septation of the jugular foramen. (A) Absent septation (AS). (B) Complete septation (CS). (C) Partial septation (PS).

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  Fig. 3 Incidence of bony dome roof of the jugular foramen. Present dome (PD) or absent dome (AD).

Reference

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