title: The foramen ovale morphometry of sphenoid bone in South Indian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The foramen ovale is an oval opening in the greater wing of sphenoid bone transmitting the mandibular nerve as its major content. It serves as an important landmark for neurosurgeons in certain procedures as to gain access to trigeminal nerve. Therefore, its topographic position in relation to adjacent bony landmarks provides useful tool during these procedures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the morphometric measurements of the foramen ovale among South Indian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Morphometric analysis was carried out on 104 foramina ovalia of 52 dry human skulls from South India. Following dimensions of foramen ovale were measured: antero-posterior length, transverse width, distance (d(1)) from tubercle of root of zygoma to the centre of the foramen (CF) and distance (d(2)) from the midline of the base of the skull to CF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean antero-posterior length was 7.0±2.17mm on right side and 6.8±1.40mm on left side, mean transverse width was 5.0±0.42mm and 4.70±0.91mm on right and left side respectively. Mean d(1) was 32.58±1.72mm on right side and 32.75±1.76mm on left side. Mean d(2) was 25.83±1.26mm on right side and 25.08±1.31mm on left side.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regional variations in the morphometric measures may be useful in neurosurgical procedures like administration of anaesthesia involving the mandibular nerve.
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal campus), Manipal University , Manipal, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Jyothsna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal campus), Manipal University , Manipal, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Anatomy, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal campus), Manipal University , Manipal, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Mohandas Rao
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: K G
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal campus), Manipal University , Manipal, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Swamy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ravindra S
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Anatomy, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal campus), Manipal University , Manipal, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Somayaji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: S N
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Anatomy, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal campus), Manipal University , Manipal, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Satheesha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nayak B
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal campus), Manipal University , Manipal, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Sapna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marpalli
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal campus), Manipal University , Manipal, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Ashwini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: L S
keywords: Canalis ovalis; Mandibular nerve; Morphometry; Sphenoid bone