Morphological characteristics of foramen Vesalius in dry adult human skulls

Abstract

Introduction. The foramen Vesalius is a variable foramen located at the skull base, anteromedial to the foramen ovale behind and lateral to the foramen rotundum. This foramen is also known as emissary sphenoidal foramen. The aim of the research was to determine the anatomical characteristics of the foramen Vesalius in adult human skulls and foramina classification according to their type, shape, and sex distribution. Material and Methods. The study included 26 dry adult human skulls of both sexes from the collection of the Depart?ment of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Novi Sad. The skulls were macroscopically analyzed according to the presence or absence of the foramen Vesalius. Results. The foramen Vesalius was found in 16 skulls (61.54%) and it was absent in 10 skulls (38.46%). The incidence of bilateral and unilateral foramen Vesalius was 87.5% (14 skulls) and 12.5% (2 skulls), respectively. The foramen Vesalius was found in 10 male skulls (62.5%) and in 6 female skulls (37.5%). Conclusion. Based on the morphological analysis of the skulls, the study showed that the foramen of Vesalius can be unilateral or bilateral. The bilateral foramen was more common and it was usually round and symmetrical. In regard to the sex prevalence, the foramen was more prevalent in male than in female skulls. The results of the study showed that foramen Vesalius is not an uncommon anatomical variation, and its presence and morphological appearance are important information for physicians in various fields.