A multipurpose landmark for skull-base surgery: Henle's spine

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Surgical Anatomy
• Skull Base Anatomy

Background:

• Henle's spine is a bony landmark in the skull base.
• Accurate localization of skull base structures is crucial for surgical success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate Henle's spine as a reliable landmark for identifying key skull base structures.
• To assess the multipurpose utility of Henle's spine in surgical navigation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 92 adult dry skull specimens.
• Definition of spinopterygoidal and bispinal lines originating from Henle's spine.
• Creation of a parapetrosal triangle incorporating key anatomical regions.

Main Results:

• Precise distances from Henle's spine to critical foramina (spinosum, ovale, jugular, hypoglossal) and structures (pterygoid plates, vomer, foramen magnum) were measured.
• The spinopterygoidal line provided measurements to structures like the spine of the sphenoid and vomer.
• The bispinal line offered distances to the stylomastoid foramen, jugular foramen, and foramen magnum.

Conclusions:

• Henle's spine serves as a superficial and central reference point.
• Its position allows for reliable localization of multiple important skull base anatomical structures.
• This landmark can aid in guiding surgical approaches to the skull base.