English

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: A study was done on 100 intact, unsexed human skulls in the Department of Anatomy, KIMS, Bangalore, to observe and record the presence of a groove in the lateral wall of the orbit, synonymous with infra orbital sulcus. This entity has been described by the fortieth edition of Gray's text book of Anatomy to extend from the lateral end of superior orbital fissure to the orbital floor. It sometimes contains an anastomosis between middle meningeal artery and infra orbital artery. The upper end of the groove may coincide with the cranioorbital foramen (of Hyrtl, synonymous with foramen meningoorbitale).Material& Methods: 100 intact unsexed adult human skulls from the department of Anatomy KIMS Bangalore were studied. They were presumed to be of South Indian origin. RESULTS: In the present study 52 grooves were present in 200 orbits, of which 25 were on the right and 27 on the left. The origin of the groove from the cranio orbital foramen occurred once on the left. DISCUSSION: the results of the present study have been compared with previous workers. The authors hope that the study will be of use to ophthalmologists, neurosurgeons and anthropologists.