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An atypical anatomical variation of the petrosphenoidal ligament in a newborn cadaver

  • Anatomic Variations
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Abstract

Purpose

To report an atypical anatomical variation of the petrosphenoidal ligament in a newborn cadaver and to discuss its clinical significance.

Methods

During a study of ten newborn cadavers, the skull base was dissected to reveal the anatomy of the petrosphenoidal ligament and its relationship with the abducens nerve. An atypical anatomical variation was observed, and this is described. The length of the right and left ligaments to the point where it splits into two arms, the joint length of the two ligaments at the junction of the clivus, the length of the ligament proceeding to the posterior clinoid process, and the abducens nerve’s diameter as it passes below the ligament were measured on ImageJ software.

Results

The petrosphenoidal ligaments were y-shaped, and the attachment of the proximal ligaments was bifid. In the midline above the clivus, some ligament bundles joined the contralateral petrosphenoidal ligament, whilst another group of bundles originated at the posterior clinoid process. At the entry to Dorello’s canal, the abducens nerve had a diameter of 0.59 mm on the left and 0.65 mm on the right. The part of the ligaments converging on the clivus in the midline after dividing into two arms was 10.68 mm.

Conclusions

We think that this case report will provide useful information for surgical procedures to the petroclival region, transnasal surgical approaches, and surgical interventions involving the carotid artery.

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Data availability

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase mankind’s overall knowledge that can then improve patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude [4]. Also, we would like to thank The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey for their support within the scope of the 2211-A General Doctorate Scholarship.

Funding

The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Services and Techniques, Ondokuz Mayıs University Health Services of Vocational School, Samsun, Turkey

    Burak Oğuzhan Karapinar

  2. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey

    Aymen A. Warille, Mehmet Emirzeoğlu & Sait Bilgiç

  3. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Samsun University, Samsun, Turkey

    Orhan Baş

Authors
  1. Burak Oğuzhan Karapinar
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  2. Aymen A. Warille
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  3. Orhan Baş
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  4. Mehmet Emirzeoğlu
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  5. Sait Bilgiç
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Contributions

BOK: project development, data collection and management, data analysis and manuscript writing. AAW: project development, data collection, manuscript writing and manuscript editing. OB: project development, methodology, data analysis and manuscript writing. ME: manuscript editing. SB: manuscript editing. All the authors have read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Burak Oğuzhan Karapinar.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest relevant to this study.

Ethical approval

This study was carried out with the approval of the Ondokuz Mayıs University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision no. 2022/390).

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Karapinar, B.O., Warille, A.A., Baş, O. et al. An atypical anatomical variation of the petrosphenoidal ligament in a newborn cadaver. Surg Radiol Anat 45, 137–141 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-022-03072-w

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