Foramen Magnum - New and Old Anthropological Data

Authors

  • Franciszek Burdan Medical University of Lublin
  • Anna Dworzanska Medical University of Lublin
  • Wojciech Dworzanski Medical University of Lublin
  • Rrobert Klepacz Medical University of Lublin
  • Monika Cendrowska-Pinkosz Medical University of Lublin
  • Justyna Halasa Medical University of Lublin
  • Jagoda Baka Medical University of Lublin
  • Justyna Szumilo Medical University of Lublin

Keywords:

Foramen magnum, Occipital bone, Skull, Anatomy, Developmental variation sex determination.

Abstract

The foramen magnum is the biggest natural foramen of the neurocranium. It is located within occipital bone and connects the posterior cranial fossa with the vertebral canal (base of the skull). The structure is surrounded by various parts of occipital bone and secondary to their growth and development, the shape of the foramen may change during prenatal and postnatal period. Oval or oval-to-round forms of the foramen are the dominant ones for the contemporary human. However, numbers of anatomical variances have been already described, including circular, two-semicircular, heart-like, wide oval, bi-rounded oval, ventrally wide oval, bi-pointed oval and dorsally convergent oval forms. The structure is also directly or indirectly involved in numbers of pathological processes that may change its contour/shape. The linear diameters (length and width/breadth) as well as area of the foramen, especially with similar data of occipital condyles are helpful in sex determination.

Author Biographies

Franciszek Burdan, Medical University of Lublin

Human Anatomy

Anna Dworzanska, Medical University of Lublin

Human Anatomy

Wojciech Dworzanski, Medical University of Lublin

Human Anatomy

Rrobert Klepacz, Medical University of Lublin

Clinical Pathomorphology

Monika Cendrowska-Pinkosz, Medical University of Lublin

Human Anatomy

Justyna Halasa, Medical University of Lublin

Human Anatomy

Jagoda Baka, Medical University of Lublin

Human Anatomy

Justyna Szumilo, Medical University of Lublin

Clinical Pathomorphology

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Published

2014-12-31

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2014)

Section

Articles

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