Abstract :
Cranial cavity is traditionally divided into three cranial fossae, anterior, middle and posterior, respectively. Cranial nerves and vessels go out and come inside of cranium through many named and unnamed foramina, majority of them are located at their respective anatomical sites and few variations may be noted also. Middle cranial fossa is having more communications to head, neck and orbit by various foramen like ovale, rotundum, optic canal, superior and inferior orbital fissures along with many other emissary foramina; too. Middle cranial fossa of the skull is subdivided into single median area having pituitary fossa and two large lateral areas. Majority of communication is through the lateral area constituted by greater wing of sphenoid including Foramen Ovale, Foramen spinosum, and foramen rotundum and emissary sphenoidal foramen. Besides it foramen lacerum also lies at posterior end of carotid groove. These structures show a marked variation in their positions and dimensions. In the present case, we observed a very rare finding that there is complete absence of foramen complex, on right side of skull. Along with this observation bony bridging of foramen lacerum was also present. Its a rare kind of finding and can be of clinical significance for diagnostic and operative procedures.
Keyword :
Absence Foramen Ovale, Lacerum, Middle cranial fossa, Spinosum, Unilateral