SMU Medical Journal

Jeewanjot Sekhon ¹, AjitPal Singh ¹, Varun Chopra ¹, Abhilasha ²

Affiliations
1 Dept. of Anatomy, Desh Bhagat Dental College and Hospital, Sri Muktsar Sahib (Punjab), IN
2 Dept. of Anatomy, JCD Dental College and Hospital, Sirsa (Haryana), IN

Abstract

Sacrum a large triangular fusion of five sacral vertebrae is found wedged between the two innominate bones and forms postero-superior wall of pelvic cavity. An arched sacral hiatus is usually observed below the fourth or the third sacral spine. The present study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy at Desh Bhagat Dental College and Hospital, Sri Muktsar Sahib. Total 20 dry human sacra were studied with regard to the level of apex of sacral hiatus, level of base of hiatus, shape of hiatus and sacral foramina morphologically. In the present study the most prominent shape of the hiatus was inverted-U (45%). The apex of hiatus was commonly found at the level of 4^th sacral vertebra in 50% of sacra while the base was more commonly found at the level of 5th sacral vertebra (55%). The knowledge of anatomical variations of sacral hiatus is of great significance as sacral hiatus is the site of caudal epidural anaesthesia and its knowledge may help improve its success rate.

Keywords

Sacrum, Variations, Sacral Hiatus, Vertebrae, Lumbosacral Region, Anterior Sacral Meningocele.

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Varun Chopra ¹, Ajit Pal Singh ², Radhika Chopra ³, Harshdeep Joshi ⁴

Affiliations
1 Dept.of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sukhmani Dental College and Hospital, Dera Bassi (Pb.), IN
2 Dept.of Anatomy, Desh Bhagat Dental College and Hospital, Sri Muktsar Sahib, IN
3 Dept. of Microbiology, Govt. Multispecialty Hospital, Chandigarh, IN
4 Dept. of Community Medicine, MM University, Mullana, Ambala, IN

Abstract

Accurate knowledge of the location of Greater palatine foramen (GPF) holds importance not only for anesthesia and analgesia with regard to the Greater palatine nerve, but also for carrying out surgical intervention in the posterior palatal region. The morphometric study was carried out on 100 adult dry, unsexed Indian skulls. These skulls had fully erupted third molar teeth and were free of any pathological changes. The measurements were taken with divider, Castroviejo callipers, metal scale, flexible scale and digital vernier calliper. The statistical analysis indicated that there was no significant differences in measurements between the right and left sides with regards to distances of the GPF to the midpalatal suture and GPF to posterior border of hard palate. The most common position of greater palatine foramen was found to be opposite the third maxillary molar (77.14%).The bilateral symmetry between the sides of the skull was remarkable. The most common shape of GPF as per our study was oval (95.5%). GPF is a surgical landmarks which is important during resection of palatal tumor or incision and drainage of palatal abscess has to be done or when posterior palatine anesthesia is desired and as an alternative to posterior nasal packing and arterial ligation in epistaxis and is also important for prosthetic dentistry and comparative racial studies.

Keywords

Skull, Maxilla, Hard Palate, Soft Palate, Greater Palatine Foramen.

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