title: Unusual features associated with cranial openings of optic canal in dry adult human skulls.
abstract: One hundred and eighty six dry adult human skulls (372 sides) were studied in order to reveal the presence of unusual features--such as recess, fissure and notch--in the cranial opening of the optic canal. Recess, an extension of the lateral wall, was found in 229 (61.5%) sides. Fissure, an irregular discontinuity above the lateral recess, was observed in 158 (42.4%) sides. Notch, a gap in the posterior-most limit of the roof, was seen in 66 (17.7%) sides. These were commonly seen bilaterally. The etiology of these was attributed to the development of the optic canal. During intrauterine life the optic canal is in the form of a large keyhole shaped foramen, which slowly transforms into the adult canal. A developmental arrest at an early stage may lead to the formation of recesses and fissures.
authors.affiliation: ICARE Eye Hospital, E-3A, Sector-26, Noida, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Choudhry
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Choudhry
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Choudhry
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tuli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kalra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008578:Meninges; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery; D009900:Optic Nerve; D009915:Orbit / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D019291:Skull Base / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology*