Morphometric Study of Superior Orbital Fissure in Dry Ossified Human Middle Cranial Fossa

Abstract

Context: The middle cranial fossa communicates with the orbits by the superior orbital fissure. Anatomical awareness of variations in the middle cranial fossa is important for neurosurgeons, who operate in this area, ophthalmologists, to prevent inadvertent damage to the intra-orbital structures, and radiologists who interpret imaging for this area. The aim of the study was to find out different dimensions of superior orbital fissure in middle cranial fossa of both sides.

Materials & Methods: A cross sectional, analytical type of study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy of Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, from January 2011 to December 2011. The study materials consist of 117 (one hundred and seventeen) dry ossified human middle cranial fossa. The distances from the superomedial edge to the superolateral edge and to the inferior edge, the distance from the superolateral edge to the inferior edge, length and width of the superior orbital fissure of right and left sided middle cranial fossa were measured and compared.

 Results: The distances from the superomedial edge to the superolateral edge and to the inferior edge, and the distance from the superolateral edge to the inferior edge was statistically greater on the right superior orbital fissure than that of the left. The length of the superior orbital fissure was statistically greater on the right side.

Conclusion: Statistically significant difference was found between right and left middle cranial fossa regarding the distances from superomedial edge to superomedial edge and to inferior edge, the distance from superolateral edge to the inferior edge and length.

Bangladesh Journal of Anatomy July 2022, Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 35-38