Dynamics of optic canal and orbital cavity development revealed by microCT.

Purpose: Numerous studies have attempted to clarify the exact anatomy and variations of the optic canal with non-conclusive results due to its close proximity to many vulnerable structures. We sought to determine the dynamics of growth and development of these structures on fetal skulls, which will help us to better understand of gender and age-dependent variations, as well as fatal malformations.

Methods: Fifteen previously macerated fetal frontal and sphenoid bones were analyzed and the diameters of optic canal, and distance of orbit from frontomaxillary suture to frontozygomatic suture were measured using 3D reconstruction images obtained by micro-CT.

Postnatal changes in the styloid process, vagina processus styloidei, and stylomastoid foramen in relation to the function of muscles originating from the styloid process.

We investigated age-related changes in the styloid process in 88 skulls, aged from 5 months to 85 years of age. The osseous styloid process was not well developed in children. Its length increased significantly with age (from 2.

Postnatal changes in osseous and mucosal morphology of the hard palate.

We investigated the postnatal changes in the dimensions, configuration, and surface pattern of the hard palate in 68 skulls, ranging in age from birth to 90 years of age. The number of palatine rugae of the palatine mucosa was assessed in 168 living subjects aged 11-98 years. Before the first dentition appeared, the osseous palate was concave, smooth, and lacked alveolar processes.

Age-related changes in the anatomical landmarks of the osseous epipharynx.

We investigated age-related spatial relations of the osseous epipharynx--the region between the vomer and the anterior border of the great occipital foramen (basion) on 60 skulls of both sexes: 16 adult (age range 21-59 years), 19 aged (age range 60-86 years), and macerated occipital bones, sphenoid bones, and vomers in 25 specimens of children disarticulated skulls aged 1-15 years. We measured the distances basion-tuberculum pharyngeum, tuberculum pharyngeum-ala vomeris, tuberculum pharyngeum-crista choanalis vomeris, basion-crista choanalis vomeris, width of the pars basilaris at the level of the tuberculum pharyngeum, narrowest width of the pars basilaris, width at the level of pyramidal apexes; and width at the level of laminae mediates processus pterygoidei of the sphenoid bone. We found a statistically significant increase in the frontal and sagittal measurements of the osseous epipharynx increasing from childhood to adulthood, without further significant changes into old age.

Lost and found anatomical terms: Crista choanalis vomeris.

Pars cuneiformis vomeris and Crista choanalis are morphological structures on the vomer listed in the current official anatomical nomenclature, Terminologia anatomica, but are either not mentioned or incorrectly described in different anatomical books. The term Crista choanalis vomeris was originally proposed by Drago Perović in 1958 to describe the vertical crest beginning at the angle of the alae vomeris, running downwards to the posterior free margin of the vomer. Perović also described the part of the vomer behind this crest was shaped as a cone, and termed it Pars cuneiformis vomeris.