Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
10:23
Three-Dimensional Cephalometric Landmark Annotation Demonstration on Human Cone Beam Computed Tomography Scans
Published on: September 8, 2023
Foramen Rotundum Dimensions and Landmarks in Indian Adults: Anatomical Insight for Skull Base Surgery
Khursheed Raza1, Neha Xalxo2, S Shivshankar3
1Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Deoghar, India.
Maedica
|July 8, 2026
Summary
This study provides crucial morphometric data for the foramen rotundum (FR) in Indian adults, establishing the anterior clinoid process as a reliable surgical landmark for skull base procedures.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Skull Base Surgery
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- The foramen rotundum (FR) is vital for transmitting the maxillary nerve.
- Anatomical variations of the FR impact skull base lesion diagnosis and surgery.
- Limited morphometric data exists for the FR in the Indian population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the morphometric characteristics and anatomical features of the FR in Indian adults.
- To establish reliable surgical landmarks for safe skull base surgery.
- To address the gap in population-specific data for the Indian demographic.
Main Methods:
- Examined 30 dry adult human skulls and 30 CT scans.
- Measured FR breadth, height, and distance from the anterior clinoid process.
- Utilized digital calipers and specialized CT software, with statistical analysis for asymmetry.
Main Results:
- The FR was consistently present with round shapes and regular margins.
- Mean FR dimensions were recorded for both dry skulls and CT scans.
- No significant asymmetry was found between left and right sides; the anterior clinoid process distance was consistent.
Conclusions:
- Established population-specific morphometric data for the FR in Indian adults.
- Validated the anterior clinoid process as a dependable surgical landmark.
- Provided essential reference points for endoscopic and lateral skull base approaches, improving surgical safety and diagnostic accuracy.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View
The superior view of the cranium shows the frontal and paired parietal bones.
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
01:27Cranial Bones: Lateral View
The lateral view of the cranium is dominated by temporal, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones.
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
The temporal bone forms the lower lateral side of the skull. The temporal bone is subdivided into several regions. The flattened upper portion is the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Below this area and projecting anteriorly is the zygomatic process of the temporal bone, which forms the posterior portion of the zygomatic arch. Posteriorly is the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. Projecting...
01:18Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles
There are hollow fluid-filled cavities known as ventricles deep inside the human brain. There are two lateral ventricles, one in each cerebral hemisphere, and each has three different projections — the anterior, inferior, and posterior horns visible from the lateral side. A thin membrane called the septum pellucidum separates the two lateral ventricles. The slender third ventricle in the diencephalon is connected to each lateral ventricle via a channel called the interventricular foramen. The...
01:08Overview of the Skull
The cranium (skull) is the skeletal structure of the head that supports the face and protects the brain. It is subdivided into the facial bones and the brain case, or cranial vault. The facial bones underlie the facial structures, form the nasal cavity, enclose the eyeballs, and support the teeth of the upper and lower jaws.
The cranial vault surrounds and protects the brain and houses the middle and inner ear structures. This cavity is bounded superiorly by the rounded top of the skull, which...
The cranial vault surrounds and protects the brain and houses the middle and inner ear structures. This cavity is bounded superiorly by the rounded top of the skull, which...
01:26Bone Markings
Bones have various surface features that help form joints and attach to other soft tissues. Depending on the function, bone markings are categorized into articulating projections, processes for attachment, depressions, and openings.
Articulating Projections
Articulating projections are found where two bones meet to form a joint. These structures are usually found at the ends of bones. The largest articulation is a rounded projection called the head, supported by a narrow neck at the ends of...
Articulating Projections
Articulating projections are found where two bones meet to form a joint. These structures are usually found at the ends of bones. The largest articulation is a rounded projection called the head, supported by a narrow neck at the ends of...
01:22Sutures of the Skull
The human skull is composed of several bones that come together to protect the brain and support the structures of the face. The junctions where these bones meet are called sutures.
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...