scispace - formally typeset
Open AccessJournal ArticleDOI

Variability of Human Foramen Magnum Size

Reads0
Chats0
TLDR
Surprisingly, neither sexual dimorphism, individual age‐dependency, nor a secular trend was found for either diameter, thus foramen magnum size cannot be used as reliable indicator for stature estimation and shall be explored in larger and geographically more diverse samples.
Abstract
The foramen magnum is an important landmark of the skull base and is of particular interest for anthropology, anatomy, forensic medicine, and other medical fields. Despite its importance, few osteometric studies of the foramen magnum have been published so far. A total of 110 transverse and 111 sagittal diameters from Central European male and female dry specimens dating from the Pleistocene to modern times were measured, and related to sex, age, stature, ethnicity, and a possible secular trend. Only a moderate positive correlation between the transverse and the sagittal diameter of the foramen magnum was found. Surprisingly, neither sexual dimorphism, individual age-dependency, nor a secular trend was found for either diameter. Furthermore, the relationship between the individual stature and foramen magnum diameters was weak: thus foramen magnum size cannot be used as reliable indicator for stature estimation. Further consideration of possible factors influencing the variability of human foramen magnum size shall be explored in larger and geographically more diverse samples, thus serving forensic, clinical, anatomical, and anthropological interests in this body part. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

read more

Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI

Evaluation of foramen magnum in gender determination using helical CT scanning.

TL;DR: It can be concluded that the reconstructed CT image can provide valuable measurements for the foramen magnum and could be used for sexing when other methods are inconclusive.
Journal ArticleDOI

Sex estimation from foramen magnum dimensions in an Indian population

TL;DR: It is suggested that its application in sex estimation should be restricted to cases where only a fragment of base of the skull is brought for examination, and the anteroposterior diameter and area of foramen magnum can be employed as better tools for sexing the skulls than the transverse diameter of the foramenMagnum.

Morphological Analysis and Morphometry of the Foramen Magnum: An Anatomical Investigation Foramen Magnum Morfolojik Analizi ve Morfometrisi: Anatomik Bir İnceleme

P. chEThAN, +1 more
TL;DR: The present study has determined the various shapes of foramen magnum and its morphometry and the data obtained may be of useful to the neurosurgeon in analyzing the morphological anatomy of craniovertebral junction.
Journal ArticleDOI

Measurements of the Foramen Magnum and Mandible in Relation to Sex Using CBCT

TL;DR: Evaluating pre‐existing CBCT images of a large sample of adult females and males to provide data on foramen magnum and mandibular measures of sexual dimorphism for use as a reference sample in cases of establishing identity in unknown fragmentary skulls found that the cross‐validated grouped overall predictive accuracy was 83.2% for FM and mandible measurements.
Journal Article

Craniometric Analysis of Foramen Magnum for Estimation of Sex

TL;DR: The study observations are suggestive of the limited utility of the craniometric analysis of foramen magnum during the examination of skull and its parts in estimation of sex, and of the increased possibility of recovering this part of skull even in cases of severe trauma.
References
More filters
Book

Lehrbuch der Anthropologie

Journal ArticleDOI

Morphometry of the thoracic and lumbar spine related to transpedicular screw placement for surgical spinal fixation.

TL;DR: Good correlation is shown to occur between CT scan and direct physical measurements of human vertebrae, and implications for spinal implant screw dimensions and safety of implantation are discussed.
Journal ArticleDOI

Vertebral body and posterior element morphology: the normal spine in middle life

TL;DR: Multiple morphologic parameters were studied in normal adult vertebral columns ranging in age from 20 to 40 years at the time of death, and Penetration of 5 mm screw threads through pedicle cortex can be expected to occur routinely in the lower thoracic spine, and in a lesser but significant number of lumbar vertebrae.
Journal ArticleDOI

Variations in size and in symmetry of foramina of the human skull.

TL;DR: An average size and size range for many of the skull's foramina is defined and in which paired foramina asymmetry is commonly found so that researchers and clinicians examining foramina may have an anatomical reference.
Related Papers (5)