Study of the Jugular Foramen of the Human Skull in South Indian Region

The Jugular Foramen is situated at the posterior end of the Petro-occipital fissure, which descendsantero-laterally to the exterior. Through this foramen the ninth, tenth and eleventh cranial nervespass and sigmoid sinus continues below with the internal jugular vein and the meningeal branches ofoccipital and ascending pharyngeal arteries enter through the foramen. The increasing use of moderndiagnostic procedures and new surgical approaches has created a need for much more detailedanatomical studies and explanations. Hundred dry south Indian human skulls were collected fromdepartment of anatomy VMKV Medical college and Vinayaka Mission’s Homeopathy MedicalCollege and study was undertaken to measure the size of jugular foramen. The length and width ofjugular foramen 0n right and left side was measured using digital vernier calipers and incidence ofseptation of jugular foramen was notedIn 88% of skulls length of jugular foramen on right side wasthan left and in 12% of skulls length of jugular foramen on left side was more than right.Septationwas seen in 8% of skulls in right side jugular foramen and 11% on left side jugular foramen.In thisstudy it was observed that Jugular foramen was larger on right side in comparision to left side whichwas statistically significant.