Localization and morphometric evaluation of Supraorbital and Infraorbital foramen in Dravidian Population of Southern India: A paleoantropological study on dry skulls.

Abstract

Purpose:To determine the morphology and morphometric distance of supraorbital foramen/ notch(SOF/N) and infrorbital foramen(IOF) from different important anatomical landmark. Method:Sixty-five dry adult Dravidian skulls(130 sides) of Southern India were investigated to analyze the frequency of occurrence of SOF/N and shape of IOF. Fourty skulls (80 sides) were assessed to measure the width and positioning of SOF/N and IOF. Results: Mean width of S0N/F and IOF was 2.86mm and 3.85 respectively. The average distance of SOF/N was 25.9mm lateral to nasion, 28.5mm medial to temporal crest of the frontal bone, 0.92mm superior to supraorbital rim. The distance between right and left SOF/N was 49.6mm.The IOF was at an average of 44.08mm lateral to nasion,41.36mm lateral to maxillary midline, 6.82mm below infraorbital rim, 2.8mm medial to zygomaticomaxillary suture,34.8mm lateral to anterior nasal spine and 27.45mm from the alveolar crest. SOF/N was located at an average of 8.3 degree from IOF. IOF was in line with maxillary second premolar and the direction of opening was pointed inferomedially. The mean value of all the measurements was made between the right and left sides using independent t-test showed no statistical significance (where p>0.05).Conclusion: These morphometric measurements facilitate the professionals to locate the neurovascular bundles passing through the foramen and also assist in non-invasive as well as invasive surgical procedures. Key-Words: Anatomical Variation; Dravidian , Foramen, Location, Skull .