open access

Vol 80, No 4 (2021)
Original article
Submitted: 2019-06-27
Accepted: 2019-08-22
Published online: 2020-11-24
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Parietal foramen: incidence and topography

J. Naidoo1, J. S. Luckrajh1, L. Lazarus1
·
Pubmed: 33241848
·
Folia Morphol 2021;80(4):980-984.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Clinical Anatomy, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa

open access

Vol 80, No 4 (2021)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2019-06-27
Accepted: 2019-08-22
Published online: 2020-11-24

Abstract

Background: The parietal foramen (PF) is a small inconsistent aperture located at the border of the middle 1/3 and posterior 1/3 of the parietal bone near the sagittal suture and is considered an emissary foramen. Cranial emissary foramina are of utmost importance due to the structures that traverse the foramen. Variations in these foramina are common. Knowledge of the PF is important when performing neurosurgical procedures as the emissary vessels are at risk.
Materials and methods: The present study used 100 dry adult calvaria to determine the frequency of PF, the diameter of the PF, as well as topography of the PF (using the sagittal suture as an anatomical landmark).
Results: A total of 32% of calvaria had PF present bilaterally; whilst 35% of calvaria had unilateral PF. The study also reports 5% calvaria in which PF were present on the sagittal suture. The mean diameter recorded was 1.55 mm (0.74–3.08 mm), and the mean distance between the lateral margin of the PF and the sagittal suture was 9.02 mm (4.44–18.20 mm).
Conclusions: Knowledge of the incidence and topography of the PF may aid neurosurgeons in creating and adjusting techniques and procedures in order to mitigate the risk of injury to emissary veins and other structures emerging from the PF.

Abstract

Background: The parietal foramen (PF) is a small inconsistent aperture located at the border of the middle 1/3 and posterior 1/3 of the parietal bone near the sagittal suture and is considered an emissary foramen. Cranial emissary foramina are of utmost importance due to the structures that traverse the foramen. Variations in these foramina are common. Knowledge of the PF is important when performing neurosurgical procedures as the emissary vessels are at risk.
Materials and methods: The present study used 100 dry adult calvaria to determine the frequency of PF, the diameter of the PF, as well as topography of the PF (using the sagittal suture as an anatomical landmark).
Results: A total of 32% of calvaria had PF present bilaterally; whilst 35% of calvaria had unilateral PF. The study also reports 5% calvaria in which PF were present on the sagittal suture. The mean diameter recorded was 1.55 mm (0.74–3.08 mm), and the mean distance between the lateral margin of the PF and the sagittal suture was 9.02 mm (4.44–18.20 mm).
Conclusions: Knowledge of the incidence and topography of the PF may aid neurosurgeons in creating and adjusting techniques and procedures in order to mitigate the risk of injury to emissary veins and other structures emerging from the PF.

Get Citation

Keywords

parietal foramen, emissary foramen, osteology, incidence, topography, diameter, sagittal suture

About this article
Title

Parietal foramen: incidence and topography

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 80, No 4 (2021)

Article type

Original article

Pages

980-984

Published online

2020-11-24

Page views

6578

Article views/downloads

1119

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2020.0140

Pubmed

33241848

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2021;80(4):980-984.

Keywords

parietal foramen
emissary foramen
osteology
incidence
topography
diameter
sagittal suture

Authors

J. Naidoo
J. S. Luckrajh
L. Lazarus

References (20)
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