Eur J Anat, 17 (3): 142-145 (2013)

Anatomy of the adult foramen caecum

Barbara Lewińska-Śmiałek¹, Paweł Szaro^1,2 and Bogdan Ciszek^1,3

¹Department of Descriptive and Clinical Anatomy, Centre of Biostructure Research, Medical University of Warsaw (DDCA), Poland, ²Department of Clinical Radiology, Trauma Centre Child Jesus Memorial Clinical Hospital, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland and ³Department of Neurosurgery, Bogdanowicz Memorial Hospital for Children, Warsaw, Poland

ABSTRACT The foramen caecum is a hitherto not fully described structure of the base of the anterior cranial fossa. The surroundings of its route are routinely the site of surgical interventions which are preceded by a computer tomography scan. The examination and comparison of the adult foramen caecum anatomy are found in anatomical specimens and in computer tomography images. The measurements of foramen caecum were done using computer tomography images. The anonymous images of 18 adult patients were used, as well as 15 cranium anatomical specimens. Only skulls with an intact foramen caecum region were examined. Tools available in the Clear Canvas Workstation 2,0SP1 were used to conduct measurements of the CT images, while a millimeter scale and a probe inserted into the foramen caecum were used to conduct measurements of the anatomical specimens. The foramen caecum was present in all investigated skulls but with the wide range of proper dimensions. The highest (15 mm) and the lowest depth (4 mm) were found in anatomical specimens. It has been ascertained that the foramen caecum inside bone structure takes the form of a short canal leading to the frontal sinus. The comparison of the results of the measurements of CT images and anatomical specimens revealed that the dimensions of the foramen caecum vary. The examination of each CT image resulted in identification of the foramen caecum.

Keywords: Cribriform plate, Crista galli, Ethmoid bone, Frontal bone, Anterior cranial fossa