Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the localization and the shape of foramen lacerum (FL) on skulls and to find out the distances between the area and neigbouring anatomical bony landmarks.

Methods: The study was performed on the craniums of 50 (100 sides) West Anatolian adult subjects. Morphometrical measurements of the FL and related adjacent structures were taken of the skulls using a Vernier caliper accurate 0.01 mm. The results were evaluated statistically with SPSS 22.0.

Results: The distance of the right FL and the left FL, the dis- tance between FL and the structures such as the carotid canal, hiatus for lesser petrosal nerve, foramen ovale, foramen spin- osum, foramen rotundum and the distance of both the right and left FL to midline were evaluated. The distance of FL and posterior, middle and anterior clinoid processes were also eval- uated on both side, respectively. Evaluations have already been carried on.

Conclusion: The localization of FL and the distances between the foramen and the anatomical bony landmarks may be useful for neurosurgical approach.

Keywords: foramen lacerum, morphometry, neurosurgical procedure