Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
TURKIYE KLINIKLERI TIP BILIMLERI DERGISI, cilt.30, sa.5, ss.1454-1458, 2010 (SCI-Expanded)
Objective: The arcuate eminence (AE) is an arc-like prominence in middle cranial fossa (MCF). Its long axis is obliquely directed anteriorly and medially. The AE is one of the anatomical landmarks for MCF approaches. However, if the AE is not prominent in MCF, it can go unnoticed and is likely that it has individual variations. The aim of this study is to define the anatomical characteristics of the AE in detail and to show its variations and their incidences. Material and Methods: We used 24 cranial bases (48 specimens), 38 right-side and 33 left-side temporal bones; 119 specimens overall. After assessment of the presence or absence of the AE, we grouped them as single arc, dual arc or complex arc. Cases with the complex arc shape were grouped into five subgroups for the first time in the literature. Data were then analyzed. Results: The overall incidence of AE was 94.1% with 64.3% single arc, and 35.7% dual or complex arc. In the group in which the variations of complex arc were remarkable, the most common ones were those with triangle-shaped origo at 36.7%. Conclusion: According to the hypothesis in the literature, the All corresponds to the anterior semicircular canal (ASC), the air cells underneath, or the third temporal sulcus. Although the association between the AE and ASC has not yet been proven, the importance of the All in MCF surgery is still valid. The data in our study will be helpful in surgery by defining the formal characteristics of the AE.