open access

Vol 79, No 3 (2020)
Original article
Submitted: 2019-06-14
Accepted: 2019-08-04
Published online: 2019-08-26
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Bony canal and grooves of the middle meningeal artery: mythic structures in anatomy and neurosurgery?

L. Eberlova12, S. Pisova1, L. Papezova1, H. Mirka23, P. Hosek2, M. Steflova1, A. Maleckova4, D. Kachlik5, D. Stepanek6
·
Pubmed: 31584180
·
Folia Morphol 2020;79(3):450-461.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic, Czech Republic
  2. Biomedical Centre, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
  3. Department of Imaging Methods, University Hospital in Pilsen, Czech Republic
  4. Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czech Republic
  5. Department of Anatomy, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
  6. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital in Pilsen, Czech Republic

open access

Vol 79, No 3 (2020)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2019-06-14
Accepted: 2019-08-04
Published online: 2019-08-26

Abstract

Background: It has been previously published that the frontal branch of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) is usually embedded in a bony canal (BC). Although the incidence of the BC was over 70%, this structure is currently omitted both in anatomical nomenclature and in most of the literature. We found the same gap pertaining to the grooves for the MMA on the skull base. The aims of our study were to assess the incidence and morphometry of the MMA BC and grooves on the skull base.

Materials and methods: Computed tomography (CT) scans of 378 patients, 172 skull bases as well as 120 sphenoidal bones and 168 temporal bones, and 12 histological specimens from 3 men and 3 women and 3 different regions of the MMA course were assessed.

Results: Based on CT scans, the incidence of the BC was 85.44% and was significantly higher in females than in males. Most of the canals and grooves were bilateral. The mean canal length was 17.67 mm, the mean transverse diameter 1.33 mm, and the mean distance from the superior orbital fissure (dFOS) was 26.7 mm. In the skull bases, the BC incidence was 70.07%, the mean canal length 10.74 mm, and the mean dFOS was 19.16 mm. The groove for the MMA on the temporal and sphenoidal bones was present in 99.42% and 95.35%, respectively. Histological specimens confirmed the presence of the MMA and accompanying vein/s.

Conclusions: Based on our results, we suggest the addition of the BC and grooves for the middle meningeal vessels to the upcoming version of the Terminologia Anatomica.

Abstract

Background: It has been previously published that the frontal branch of the middle meningeal artery (MMA) is usually embedded in a bony canal (BC). Although the incidence of the BC was over 70%, this structure is currently omitted both in anatomical nomenclature and in most of the literature. We found the same gap pertaining to the grooves for the MMA on the skull base. The aims of our study were to assess the incidence and morphometry of the MMA BC and grooves on the skull base.

Materials and methods: Computed tomography (CT) scans of 378 patients, 172 skull bases as well as 120 sphenoidal bones and 168 temporal bones, and 12 histological specimens from 3 men and 3 women and 3 different regions of the MMA course were assessed.

Results: Based on CT scans, the incidence of the BC was 85.44% and was significantly higher in females than in males. Most of the canals and grooves were bilateral. The mean canal length was 17.67 mm, the mean transverse diameter 1.33 mm, and the mean distance from the superior orbital fissure (dFOS) was 26.7 mm. In the skull bases, the BC incidence was 70.07%, the mean canal length 10.74 mm, and the mean dFOS was 19.16 mm. The groove for the MMA on the temporal and sphenoidal bones was present in 99.42% and 95.35%, respectively. Histological specimens confirmed the presence of the MMA and accompanying vein/s.

Conclusions: Based on our results, we suggest the addition of the BC and grooves for the middle meningeal vessels to the upcoming version of the Terminologia Anatomica.

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Keywords

anatomical terminology; middle meningeal artery; skull base; Terminologia Anatomica

About this article
Title

Bony canal and grooves of the middle meningeal artery: mythic structures in anatomy and neurosurgery?

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 79, No 3 (2020)

Article type

Original article

Pages

450-461

Published online

2019-08-26

Page views

1539

Article views/downloads

931

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2019.0098

Pubmed

31584180

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2020;79(3):450-461.

Keywords

anatomical terminology
middle meningeal artery
skull base
Terminologia Anatomica

Authors

L. Eberlova
S. Pisova
L. Papezova
H. Mirka
P. Hosek
M. Steflova
A. Maleckova
D. Kachlik
D. Stepanek

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