Vol 63, No 4 (2004)
Original article
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2004-09-16
The jugular foramen - a morphometric study
O.E. Idowu
Folia Morphol 2004;63(4):419-422.
Vol 63, No 4 (2004)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2004-09-16
Abstract
The jugular foramen (JF) varies in shape and size from side to side in the same
cranium, and in different crania, racial groups and sexes. Side dominance is also
said to be common. The foramen’s irregular shape, its formation by two bones
and the numerous nerves and venous channels that pass through it further
compound its anatomy.
A morphometric study of 20 (40 JF) adult male Nigerian dry skulls was carried out.
A bony bridge completely partitioned the JF in 3 (7.5%) of the JF. There was no
tripartite JF. The JF mean length on the right and left were 13.90 mm (11.6–17.0 mm)
and 14.11 mm (9.2–20.2 mm), while their widths measured 10.22 mm (6.8
–14.4 mm) and 9.57 mm (7.4–12.8 mm) on the right and left respectively. The
mean JF area on the right was 437.49 mm (265.35–669.54 mm) and that on the
left was 419.48 mm (276.46–634.60 mm). Side predominance of one of the JF
appeared in 80% of cases. When present, the predominance of the right side was
55%, with 25% on the left. There was a difference in the length and width on
each side but no significant difference in the length, width and area of the JF
between the two sides. There was a positive correlation between skull width/
length and height/length ratio and JF area and length on each side.
In conclusion, complete bony subdivision of the JF was not common among our
study population and although the JF was generally larger on the right in our
population, this is not statistically significant. A higher skull width/length and
height/length ratio is associated with a greater JF length and area.
Abstract
The jugular foramen (JF) varies in shape and size from side to side in the same
cranium, and in different crania, racial groups and sexes. Side dominance is also
said to be common. The foramen’s irregular shape, its formation by two bones
and the numerous nerves and venous channels that pass through it further
compound its anatomy.
A morphometric study of 20 (40 JF) adult male Nigerian dry skulls was carried out.
A bony bridge completely partitioned the JF in 3 (7.5%) of the JF. There was no
tripartite JF. The JF mean length on the right and left were 13.90 mm (11.6–17.0 mm)
and 14.11 mm (9.2–20.2 mm), while their widths measured 10.22 mm (6.8
–14.4 mm) and 9.57 mm (7.4–12.8 mm) on the right and left respectively. The
mean JF area on the right was 437.49 mm (265.35–669.54 mm) and that on the
left was 419.48 mm (276.46–634.60 mm). Side predominance of one of the JF
appeared in 80% of cases. When present, the predominance of the right side was
55%, with 25% on the left. There was a difference in the length and width on
each side but no significant difference in the length, width and area of the JF
between the two sides. There was a positive correlation between skull width/
length and height/length ratio and JF area and length on each side.
In conclusion, complete bony subdivision of the JF was not common among our
study population and although the JF was generally larger on the right in our
population, this is not statistically significant. A higher skull width/length and
height/length ratio is associated with a greater JF length and area.
Keywords
intrajugular processes; length; side dominance; width
Title
The jugular foramen - a morphometric study
Journal
Folia Morphologica
Issue
Vol 63, No 4 (2004)
Article type
Original article
Pages
419-422
Published online
2004-09-16
Page views
604
Article views/downloads
2267
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2004;63(4):419-422.
Keywords
intrajugular processes
length
side dominance
width
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