Summary
The authors have examined variations in shape and dimensions in the region of the terminal part of the sigmoid groove, venous portion of jugular foramen and jugular fossa with reference to age, sex, and body side. Examinations were carried out on 300 macerated skulls of both sexes within age limits of 11 up to 88 years. The specimens were divided into three age groups.
The jugular fossa becomes deeper with age, whereas there is no substantial variation in the dimensions of the terminal part of the sigmoid groove or the venous portion of the jugular foramen. All the dimensions are larger on the right hand-side but do not differ significantly with sex.
It was noted that the venous portion of the jugular foramen appears to be positioned in the transversal direction more frequently in the older age group and on the right-hand side. With the transversal position of the jugular foramen a more pronounced and medially sited lower knee of the sigmoid groove and a reduced lateral edge of the venous portion of jugular foramen were found.
Dehiscences in the region of the medial wall of the venous portion of the jugular foramen and the dome of the jugular fossa were examined and found in 14.3 percent of skulls. The importance of dehiscences through which the jugular fossa communicates with the cavum tympani are emphasized. The number of dehiscences increases with age, and they are twice as frequent on the right side as on the left.
Frequency and dimensions of condylar and mastoid foramina were examined and the sum of the areas of these foramina was found to be in inverse proportion to the sum of the areas of the venous portion of the jugular foramina on both sides of the skull.
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Solter, M., Paljan, D. Variations in shape and dimensions of sigmoid groove, venous portion of jugular foramen, jugular fossa, condylar and mastoid foramina classified by age, sex and body side. Z. Anat. Entwickl. Gesch. 140, 319–335 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00525059
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00525059