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Clinical anatomy of the human anterior cranial fossa during the prenatal period
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Abstract
The study was performed on 29 foetuses from the first and second trimester of pregnancy. New methods of computer image analysis, Scion for Windows 98 and ELF v 4.2, were applied to examine this anatomical region. Different options used were binarisation, equalisation, filters, linear and non-linear transformations and mathematical operations of images. This enabled the dynamics of prenatal development to be accurately evaluated for parts of the base of the human skull. Measurements were taken of angles of the cranial base. The anterior cranial base angle (the apex in the middle of the sella turcica and the arms running through the zygomatic ossification points) decreased gradually between C-R 6 to 23.5 cm from 170 to 120 degrees and afterwards became constant. The contrary-medial cranial base angle (adjacent to the anterior cranial base angle and with a second arm running through the auricular cartilage) increased from 50 to 70 degrees. The anterior cranial fossa was first located on the same level as the middle and posterior fossae. The process of descent of the middle and posterior cranial fossa begins in the 4th gestational month.
The geometry of the anterior cranial fossa changes rapidly, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. The first trimester of pregnancy is crucial for the development of its defects. Preconception prophylaxis of inborn defects of the anterior cranial fossa is therefore extremely important.
Abstract
The study was performed on 29 foetuses from the first and second trimester of pregnancy. New methods of computer image analysis, Scion for Windows 98 and ELF v 4.2, were applied to examine this anatomical region. Different options used were binarisation, equalisation, filters, linear and non-linear transformations and mathematical operations of images. This enabled the dynamics of prenatal development to be accurately evaluated for parts of the base of the human skull. Measurements were taken of angles of the cranial base. The anterior cranial base angle (the apex in the middle of the sella turcica and the arms running through the zygomatic ossification points) decreased gradually between C-R 6 to 23.5 cm from 170 to 120 degrees and afterwards became constant. The contrary-medial cranial base angle (adjacent to the anterior cranial base angle and with a second arm running through the auricular cartilage) increased from 50 to 70 degrees. The anterior cranial fossa was first located on the same level as the middle and posterior fossae. The process of descent of the middle and posterior cranial fossa begins in the 4th gestational month.
The geometry of the anterior cranial fossa changes rapidly, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. The first trimester of pregnancy is crucial for the development of its defects. Preconception prophylaxis of inborn defects of the anterior cranial fossa is therefore extremely important.
Keywords
foetal skull base; premature craniosynostosis; computer image analysis
Title
Clinical anatomy of the human anterior cranial fossa during the prenatal period
Journal
Issue
Article type
Short communication
Pages
271-273
Published online
2003-06-09
Page views
514
Article views/downloads
1221
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2003;62(3):271-273.
Keywords
foetal skull base
premature craniosynostosis
computer image analysis
Authors
Wojciech Derkowski
Alicja Kędzia
Michał Glonek