open access

Vol 63, No 1 (2004)
Original article
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2003-12-03
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The morphology of the hypoglossal canal and its size in relation to skull capacity in man and other mammal species

Jarosław Wysocki, Henryk Kobryń, Mariusz Bubrowski, Jan Kwiatkowski, Jerzy Reymond, Bożena Skarżyńska
Folia Morphol 2004;63(1):11-17.

open access

Vol 63, No 1 (2004)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2003-12-03

Abstract

The hypoglossal canal is a permanent element of the human skull. As well as the hypoglossal nerve, the canal also contains the venous plexus and an arterial branch leading to the dura mater. It emerged from our earlier studies that the venous plexus is a dominant component in this canal. In the present work the morphology and dimensions of the canal were studied on macerated skulls of humans and animals (rhesus monkey, European bison, fox, dog, cat, hare and rat). The hypoglossal canal was found in all the human and animal skulls examined. In both humans and animals the hypoglossal canal was frequently duplicated. The double canal was found in 43% specimens of human skulls. However, no triple division of the hypoglossal canal was found in the material under investigation. It was found that the hypoglossal canal in man, rhesus monkey and European bison had significant dimensions and in fact correlated with the size of skull capacity. This suggests that the hypoglossal canal is an essential venous emissary in man, rhesus monkey and European bison, but that in the remaining species it is of secondary importance in this respect.

Abstract

The hypoglossal canal is a permanent element of the human skull. As well as the hypoglossal nerve, the canal also contains the venous plexus and an arterial branch leading to the dura mater. It emerged from our earlier studies that the venous plexus is a dominant component in this canal. In the present work the morphology and dimensions of the canal were studied on macerated skulls of humans and animals (rhesus monkey, European bison, fox, dog, cat, hare and rat). The hypoglossal canal was found in all the human and animal skulls examined. In both humans and animals the hypoglossal canal was frequently duplicated. The double canal was found in 43% specimens of human skulls. However, no triple division of the hypoglossal canal was found in the material under investigation. It was found that the hypoglossal canal in man, rhesus monkey and European bison had significant dimensions and in fact correlated with the size of skull capacity. This suggests that the hypoglossal canal is an essential venous emissary in man, rhesus monkey and European bison, but that in the remaining species it is of secondary importance in this respect.
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Keywords

hypoglossal canal; skull; human; animals; anatomy

About this article
Title

The morphology of the hypoglossal canal and its size in relation to skull capacity in man and other mammal species

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 63, No 1 (2004)

Article type

Original article

Pages

11-17

Published online

2003-12-03

Page views

627

Article views/downloads

2513

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2004;63(1):11-17.

Keywords

hypoglossal canal
skull
human
animals
anatomy

Authors

Jarosław Wysocki
Henryk Kobryń
Mariusz Bubrowski
Jan Kwiatkowski
Jerzy Reymond
Bożena Skarżyńska

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