Study of Morphometry of Carotid Canal in Skulls of South Indian origin.

Abstract

The internal carotid artery supplies the anterior part of the brain, the eye and its appendages and sends branches to the forehead and nose.Carotid canal is a curved channel in the petrous temporal bone through which internal carotid artery enters the skull. In the present study 20 skulls of unknown sex were considered. The morphometric study of carotid canal was studied by direct bone method and by silicone cast method. The present study aimed to show the differences of measurements by two methods and the silicon cast method is of its kind to measure the length of the carotid canal. Carotid canal were measured at three different levels by both methods. Length of carotid canal to bend, diameter at the bend, length from the bend to foramen lacerum. The data was analysed for all the measurements of two methods and comparison of mean and SD at three different levels was done.Significant difference between two methods at three different levels was observed. Independent sample t-test was applied for total length of carotid canal. By observation there is a mean significant difference between two methods in the measurements of carotid canal from lower opening till the angulation on left side of the skull.The study showed that there is a bilateral significant difference in measurements of diameter between two methods. There was no significant difference observed in total length of the canal in both left and right sides. Morphometrical details of the canal are of great significance to neurosurgeons and otologists. Silicon cast method was cost effective and much easier method to study the length and measurements of carotid canal as it exactly depicts the curvature of carotid canal.