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<p>Stylomastoid foramen is seen anteromedial to mastoid process and posterolateral to styloid process at the anterior end of mastoid notch. It conveys the motor portion of facial nerve and the stylomastoid branch of the posterior auricular artery<b>.</b> In its extracranial course, the facial nerve passes through the substance of the parotid gland and there it splits into two divisions, temporofacial and cervicofacial. Surgical procedures involving facial nerve, are usually performed in the region surrounding stylomastoid foramen as the nerve exits from the skull. Exploring the facial nerve is surgically challenging due to close association of important structures like carotids, jugular vein and ninth, tenth and eleventh cranial nerves. Moreover, the facial nerve cannot be traced radiologically. So, knowledge of the bony landmarks like mastoid process, styloid process and their morphometric features remains as the key to identify the stylomastoid foramen. We have made an effort to study the same on dry skull bones which may be of help during skull base surgeries. Primary Objective- to study the morphometric features of stylomastoid foramen—the dimensions and shape. Secondary Objective—to study the topographic relations of stylomastoid foramen with the surrounding bony landmarks. The dimensions of stylomastoid foramen and its distances from surrounding landmarks were measured with digital vernier caliper. The different shapes of the foramen were observed and photographs were taken by using Nikon d850, 45 MP, Lens- 24-105/f4 camera with scale giving gray scaled images as well as dimensions. Vernier caliper measurements were reconfirmed with camera. All the measurements were tabulated in Excel sheet. In our study we found different shapes of stylomastoid foramen like round, oval, square and irregular variant. 20 right sides (66.66%) and 18 left sides (60%) of the skull. Oval shape was the next common variant noted in 8 right side (26.66%) and 10 left side (33.33%). Most rare type of variant observed were square and irregular both types were 1 on each side. The round being most common while square and irregular were rare. Our study also found statistically significant difference in the diameter of stylomastoid foramen on right and left side. The distances of surrounding palpable bony landmarks measured in our study, will help the surgeons in tracing stylomastoid foramen and ultimately the facial nerve during skull base surgeries.</p>

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Topographic Evaluation of Stylomastoid Foramen of Skull in Maharashtrian Population

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月3日

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  • Ashwini Bhele,
  • Swati Belsare,
  • Shashank Vedpathak,
  • Vivek Nirmale

摘要

Stylomastoid foramen is seen anteromedial to mastoid process and posterolateral to styloid process at the anterior end of mastoid notch. It conveys the motor portion of facial nerve and the stylomastoid branch of the posterior auricular artery. In its extracranial course, the facial nerve passes through the substance of the parotid gland and there it splits into two divisions, temporofacial and cervicofacial. Surgical procedures involving facial nerve, are usually performed in the region surrounding stylomastoid foramen as the nerve exits from the skull. Exploring the facial nerve is surgically challenging due to close association of important structures like carotids, jugular vein and ninth, tenth and eleventh cranial nerves. Moreover, the facial nerve cannot be traced radiologically. So, knowledge of the bony landmarks like mastoid process, styloid process and their morphometric features remains as the key to identify the stylomastoid foramen. We have made an effort to study the same on dry skull bones which may be of help during skull base surgeries. Primary Objective- to study the morphometric features of stylomastoid foramen—the dimensions and shape. Secondary Objective—to study the topographic relations of stylomastoid foramen with the surrounding bony landmarks. The dimensions of stylomastoid foramen and its distances from surrounding landmarks were measured with digital vernier caliper. The different shapes of the foramen were observed and photographs were taken by using Nikon d850, 45 MP, Lens- 24-105/f4 camera with scale giving gray scaled images as well as dimensions. Vernier caliper measurements were reconfirmed with camera. All the measurements were tabulated in Excel sheet. In our study we found different shapes of stylomastoid foramen like round, oval, square and irregular variant. 20 right sides (66.66%) and 18 left sides (60%) of the skull. Oval shape was the next common variant noted in 8 right side (26.66%) and 10 left side (33.33%). Most rare type of variant observed were square and irregular both types were 1 on each side. The round being most common while square and irregular were rare. Our study also found statistically significant difference in the diameter of stylomastoid foramen on right and left side. The distances of surrounding palpable bony landmarks measured in our study, will help the surgeons in tracing stylomastoid foramen and ultimately the facial nerve during skull base surgeries.