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Published on: July 24, 2020
Biometric study of the optic canal during cranial development
Patricia Almeida Prado1, Eduardo Cotecchia Ribeiro, Marco Antonio De Angelis
1Department of Morphology, Anatomy, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Orbit (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|July 7, 2007
Summary
The optic canal
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Craniology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- The optic canal is a crucial anatomical structure transmitting the optic nerve.
- Understanding its dimensions and symmetry is vital for diagnosing and managing various ophthalmic and neurological conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dimensional changes and symmetry of the optic canal throughout human cranial development.
- To provide normative data for optic canal dimensions across fetal, childhood, and adult age groups.
Main Methods:
- Casting of 146 optic canal models from 51 dry skulls and 22 individual bones.
- Measurement of orbital and cranial opening diameters and canal length using a digital caliper.
- Categorization of specimens into three age groups: fetuses, children, and adults.
Main Results:
- Significant increase in optic canal cranial opening diameter from fetal to adult stages (p < 0.001).
- Orbital opening diameters increase during fetal and childhood periods, stabilizing in adulthood.
- Optic canal length increases between childhood and adulthood.
- A significant finding of greater right than left optic canal diameter on the orbital side.
Conclusions:
- The optic canal undergoes significant dimensional changes during cranial development, particularly in its cranial opening.
- While generally symmetrical, a slight asymmetry favoring the right orbital diameter was observed.
- These findings contribute valuable data for understanding normal cranial development and potential pathologies.
