Abstract:
The jugular foramen is a large irregular hiatus that lies on each side of the skull. It is subdivided into anterior, middle and posterior compartments. The shape and size of jugular foramen are related to the size of internal jugular
vein and the presence or absence of a prominent superior jugular bulb.
Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess variations of jugular foramen in Ethiopian dried adult skulls. To our
knowledge, this study is the first of its kind on Ethiopian skulls.
Methods and materials: Observation based descriptive study design was employed. The study was undertaken in 58 adult
Ethiopian skulls. The diameters and areas of jugular foramen were determined using a sliding jaw vernier caliper. The presence of dome and septation were also examined.
Results: The mean anteroposterior and mediolateral diameters and the area of jugular foramen are larger on the right side.
It has been observed that all the skulls had a jugular foramen bilaterally. Out of the examined 116 jugular foramina, a
domed bony roof was present in 63.79% bilaterally, in 18.97% unilaterally on the right, in 9.90% skulls unilaterally on the
left side, and it was absent bilaterally in 6.90% of skulls. The presence of bilateral partial bony septation was common and
detected in 62.01% of the skulls.
Conclusions: The various measurements on the jugular foramen reported in our study sheds light on the size and shape
of jugular foramen and provide a baseline for further research on the foramen in Ethiopian skulls.
Keywords: Skull, jugular foramen, morphological variation, dome, septation
