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The size of selected human skull foramina in relation to skull capacity
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Abstract
There was considerable centralisation of venous outflow from the brain, with 60% of the area of all venous foramina of the skull occupied by jugular foramina. Asymmetry between the right and left jugular foramina was identified, with an average ratio of 1.6 (ranging between 1 and 3.47). In the case of right-sided domination the correlation between the skull capacity and the size of both jugular foramina was negative (the larger the skull cavity, the less the asymmetry), while in the case of left-sided domination the correlation was positive. Perhaps the left-sided domination is less advantageous for the haemodynamics of blood outflow, as the left brachiocephalic vein is longer and is often compressed by the sternum and aortic arch.
Abstract
There was considerable centralisation of venous outflow from the brain, with 60% of the area of all venous foramina of the skull occupied by jugular foramina. Asymmetry between the right and left jugular foramina was identified, with an average ratio of 1.6 (ranging between 1 and 3.47). In the case of right-sided domination the correlation between the skull capacity and the size of both jugular foramina was negative (the larger the skull cavity, the less the asymmetry), while in the case of left-sided domination the correlation was positive. Perhaps the left-sided domination is less advantageous for the haemodynamics of blood outflow, as the left brachiocephalic vein is longer and is often compressed by the sternum and aortic arch.
Keywords
human skull; skull capacity; foramina; emissary veins; surface area; anatomy


Title
The size of selected human skull foramina in relation to skull capacity
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
301-308
Published online
2006-09-18
Page views
689
Article views/downloads
1270
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2006;65(4):301-308.
Keywords
human skull
skull capacity
foramina
emissary veins
surface area
anatomy
Authors
Wysocki J
Reymond J
Skarżyński H
Wróbel B