A Study Of Caroticoclinoid Foramen In The South Indian Skulls : Incidence, Morphometry And Its Clinical Correlations

The anterior and middle clinoid processes of sphenoid bone areconnected by an ossified ligament to form caroticoclinoid foramenwhich surrounds the internal carotid artery. We studied 50 skullsbelonging to South Indian origin collected from the Department ofAnatomy, J.N.Medical College, Belgaum, to evaluate the incidenceand morphometry of caroticoclinoid foramen. The completely ossifiedcaroticoclinoid foramen was found in 2 skulls on the right side ofsphenoid bone and incompletely ossified caroticoclinoid foramen wasseen in 1 skull on the right side of sphenoid bone. This was a crosssectional type of study. The internal carotid artery passes through the caroticoclinoid foramen. Formation of this foramen can cause compression of internal carotid artery leading to vascularcomplications. The knowledge of the incidence, morphometry ofcaroticoclinoid foramen will help neurosurgeons to plan a safe andeffective surgery in the region of sphenoid bone in middle cranialfossa.