title: An anatomical study on the foramen ovale and the foramen spinosum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An anatomical study was undertaken to note the shape of the foramen ovale(FO), foramen spinosum (FS) & presence or absence of canalis innominatus. FO is present in the posterior part of the greater wing of sphenoid. FS is located posterolareral to foramen ovale. Aims & Objective: We attempted this study to find out the variations in shape, bony growth & divisions of FO & FS in available dry human skulls.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 100 human skulls available in the Department of Anatomy MVPS Medical College, Nashik. This study of FO & FS was done in both male & female skulls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found oval, round, almond, triangular shaped FO. Variations in the shape of FO showed the maximum as oval shaped followed by almond, round & slit like.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FO is of great surgical & diagnostic importance in procedures like percutaneous trigeminal rizotomy in trigeminal neuralgia, transfacial fine needle aspiration technique etc. Considering such clinical importance of FO & FS, this study was worthwhile as far as neurosurgeons are concerned.
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, MVPS Dr. Vasantrao Pawar Medical College , Adgaon, Nasik 03, Maharashtra, India .
authors: Karan Bhagwawan
authors: KB
authors: Khairnar
authors: Prashant Amanrao
authors: PA
authors: Bhusari
keywords: Canalis innominatus; Foramen ovale; Foramen spinosum; Percutaneous trigeminal rizotomy; Trigeminal neuralgia
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