Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Metrical and non-metrical study of anterior clinoid process in South Indian adult skulls

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Background

The complex architecture of the anterior clinoid process (ACP), which is usually removed during the surgical elimination of tumors or aneurysms of sellar region, has surgical importance. For effective clinoidectomy, a neurosurgeon must have the prior knowledge of anatmoical variations of ACP. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dimensions and variation in the shape of ACP in dry adult skulls of South Indian origin.

Methods

The study was conducted on 25 dry adult South Indian skulls of either sex. Basal width, length and thickness of ACP were measured on both the sides using Vernier caliper. Non-metrical parameters such as shape, direction of ACP were recorded.

Results

ACP exhibited different anatomical variations with respect to their shape and direction. Triangular, pentagonal, nipple shaped, J-shaped and finger like ACP’s were observed in these skulls. Bilaterally triangular ACP was the most common type observed (64%). ACP was bilaterally straight in 68% of the skulls and bilaterally curved in 16% of the skulls. ACP with blunt end and pointed end was observed bilaterally in 52 and 24% of the skulls, respectively. The average length, basal width and thickness of ACP on right side was 10.68 ± 1.90, 12.4 ± 2.58 and 6.88 ± 1.09 mm, respectively, and on the left side it was 9.96 ± 1.71, 11.12 ± 1.81 and 6.52 ± 0.96 mm, respectively.

Conclusions

The result of the present investigation suggests that ACPs of South Indian skulls are highly variable and, are marginally larger and thicker than ACPs of Nepalese and Korean origin.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Al-Mefty O (1990) Clinoid meningiomas. J Neurosurg 73:840–849

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Al-Mefty O (ed) (1991) Meningiomas. In: Clinoidal meningiomas. Raven Press, New York, pp 427–443

  3. Atchley WR, Hall BK (1991) A model for development and evolution of complex morphological structures. Biol Rev 66:101–157

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Batjer HH, Kopitnik TA, Giller CA, Samson DS (1994) Surgery for paraclinoidal carotid artery aneurysms. J Neurosurg 80:650–658

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Cheverud JM (1982) Phenotypic, genetic, and environmental integration in the cranium. Evolution 36:499–516

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Dolenc VV (1983) Direct microsurgical repair of intracavernous vascular lesions. J Neurosurg 58:824–831

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Dolenc VV (1985) A combine epi- and subdural direct approach to carotid-ophthalmic aneurysms. J Neurosurg 62:667–672

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Dolenc VV (1997) Transcranial epidural approach to pituitary tumors extending beyond the sella. Neurosurg 41:542–552

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Dolenc VV (1999) A combined transorbital–transclinoid and transsylvian approach to carotid-ophthalmic aneurysms without retraction of the brain. Acta Neurochir Suppl (Wien) 72:89–97

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Dolenc VV, Skrap M, Sustersic J, Skrbec M, Morina A (1987) A transcavernous-transsellar approach to the basilar tip aneurysms. Br J Neurosurg 1:251–259

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Evans JJ, Hwang SY, Lee JH (2000) Pre- versus post-anterior clinoidectomy measurements of the optic nerve, internal carotid artery, and opticocarotid triangle: a cadaveric morphometric study. Neurosurg 46:1018–1023

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Giannotta SL (2002) Ophthalmic segment aneurysm surgery. Neurosurgery 50:558–562

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Gupta N, Ray B, Ghosh S (2005) A study on anterior clinoid process and optic strut with emphasis on variations of caroticoclinoid foramen. Nepal Med Coll J 7:141–144

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hadeishi H, Suzuki A, Yasui N, Satou Y (2003) Anterior clinoidectomy and opening of the internal auditory canal using an ultrasonic bone curette. Neurosurg 52:867–870

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Hallgrímsson B, Miyake T, Wilmore K, Hall BK (2003) Embryological origins of developmental stability: size, shape and fluctuating asymmetry in prenatal random bred mice. J Exp Zool Mol Dev Evol 296:40–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Hayashi N, Masuoka T, Tomita T, Sato H, Ohtani O, Endo S (2004) Surgical anatomy and efficient modification of procedures for selective extradural anterior clinoidectomy. Minim Invasive Neurosurg 47:355–358

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Lee HY, Chung IH, Choi BY, Lee KS (1997) Anterior clinoid process and optic strut in Koreans. Yonsei Med J 38:151–154

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Mikami T, Minamida Y, Koyanagi I, Baba T, Houkin KJ (2007) Anatomical variations in pneumatization of the anterior clinoid process. J Neurosurg 106:170–174

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Ng MY, Sham PC, Paterson AD, Chan V, Kung AW (2006) Effect of environmental factors and gender on the heritability of bone mineral density and bone size. Ann Hum Genet 70:428–438

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Noguchi A, Balasingam V, Shiokawa Y, McMenomey SO, Delashaw JB Jr (2005) Extradural anterior clinoidectomy. Technical note. J Neurosurg 102:945–950

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Nutik SL (1998) Pterional craniotomy via a transcavernous approach for the treatment of low-lying distal basilar artery aneurysms. J Neurosurg 89:921–926

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Rhoton AL Jr, Natori Y (1996) The orbit and sellar region: microsurgical anatomy and operative approaches. Thieme Medical, New York, pp 11, 92–93

  23. Takahashi JA, Kawarazaki A, Hashimoto N (2004) Intradural en-bloc removal of the anterior clinoid process. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 146:505–509

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Yasargil MG (1984) Microneurosurgery, vol 2. Thieme, New York, pp 253–256

  25. Yonekawa Y, Ogata N, Imhof HG, Olivecrona M, Strommer K, Kwak TE, Roth P, Groscurth P (1997) Selective extradural anterior clinoidectomy for supra- and parasellar processes. Technical note. J Neurosurg 87:636–642

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Zelditch ML, Lundrigan BL, Garland T Jr (2004) Developmental regulation of skull morphology. I. Ontogenetic dynamics of variance. Evolut Dev 6:194–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The authors kindly acknowledge Dr. Guruprasad Kalthur for his help in preparation of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, 576 104, Karnataka, India

    Shahin Hunnargi, Biswabina Ray, Shakuntala R. Pai & K. S. Siddaraju

Authors
  1. Shahin Hunnargi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Biswabina Ray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shakuntala R. Pai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. S. Siddaraju
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shahin Hunnargi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hunnargi, S., Ray, B., Pai, S.R. et al. Metrical and non-metrical study of anterior clinoid process in South Indian adult skulls. Surg Radiol Anat 30, 423–428 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-008-0346-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-008-0346-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation