Vol 62, No 4 (2003)
Original article
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2003-09-05
The morphology and morphometry of the so-called "meningo-orbital foramen" in humans
Jan Kwiatkowski, Jarosław Wysocki, Stanisław Nitek
Folia Morphol 2003;62(4):323-325.
Vol 62, No 4 (2003)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2003-09-05
Abstract
The so-called meningo-orbital foramen creates an additional link between the
orbit and the cranial cavity. This bony canal, not always present in the human
skull, contains a branch from the middle meningeal artery, providing an accessory
blood supply to the orbit. This vessel, like the foramen, is characterised by
great variability. Although older textbooks of basic anatomy suggested that it
was a rare occurrence, some current data indicate a more frequent incidence of
this foramen. These discrepancies were verified in our research. 92 orbits were
studied on 46 macerated human skulls (25 male and 21 female). Although the
incidence of the meningo-orbital foramen in the material as a whole was 28%,
the foramen in female skulls was observed to be 40.5%, compared to 18% in
male skulls. This difference was statistically significant. A double foramen was
encountered in three orbits, and in one orbit there was a triple foramen. This
means that in the material as a whole multiple foramina were observed in 4% of
cases. Two measurements were taken to determine the localisation of the meningo-
orbital foramen. The minimal distance between the supraorbital notch (or
foramen) and the meningo-orbital foramen was 35.0 (28–44) mm. The minimal
distance from the cross-point of the entrance to the orbit and the fronto-zygomatic
suture was (21.3-35.5) mm. This indicates that the meningo-orbital foramen
can lie near an operating field in some surgical interventions through the
lateral orbital wall.
Abstract
The so-called meningo-orbital foramen creates an additional link between the
orbit and the cranial cavity. This bony canal, not always present in the human
skull, contains a branch from the middle meningeal artery, providing an accessory
blood supply to the orbit. This vessel, like the foramen, is characterised by
great variability. Although older textbooks of basic anatomy suggested that it
was a rare occurrence, some current data indicate a more frequent incidence of
this foramen. These discrepancies were verified in our research. 92 orbits were
studied on 46 macerated human skulls (25 male and 21 female). Although the
incidence of the meningo-orbital foramen in the material as a whole was 28%,
the foramen in female skulls was observed to be 40.5%, compared to 18% in
male skulls. This difference was statistically significant. A double foramen was
encountered in three orbits, and in one orbit there was a triple foramen. This
means that in the material as a whole multiple foramina were observed in 4% of
cases. Two measurements were taken to determine the localisation of the meningo-
orbital foramen. The minimal distance between the supraorbital notch (or
foramen) and the meningo-orbital foramen was 35.0 (28–44) mm. The minimal
distance from the cross-point of the entrance to the orbit and the fronto-zygomatic
suture was (21.3-35.5) mm. This indicates that the meningo-orbital foramen
can lie near an operating field in some surgical interventions through the
lateral orbital wall.
Keywords
orbit; anatomy; foramina; dimensions; variability
Title
The morphology and morphometry of the so-called "meningo-orbital foramen" in humans
Journal
Folia Morphologica
Issue
Vol 62, No 4 (2003)
Article type
Original article
Pages
323-325
Published online
2003-09-05
Page views
625
Article views/downloads
1733
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2003;62(4):323-325.
Keywords
orbit
anatomy
foramina
dimensions
variability
Authors
Jan Kwiatkowski
Jarosław Wysocki
Stanisław Nitek
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