Anatomical Study of the Jugular Foramen in Cadaverous Specimens in the Mexican Population, Varieties and Constants

Background: The jugular foramen (FY) described since 1934 by Hovelacque, in two compartments: one anteromedial called the nerve part (pars nervosa) and another posterolateral, called the venous part (pars vascularis), terms that are still valid to date.

Recently Katsuta has made a division into three compartments: posterolateral, anteromedial and an intermediate or neural, a method that has been well received by current anatomists.

The jugular foramen (FY) has been described as the most complex of all the forages of the skull base, and the one with the greatest challenge for surgical approaches, located in the posterior fossa formed by the union of the temporal and occipital bones, in the back of the petroccipital fissure.

It represents a communication between the posterior fossa of the base of the skull and the superolateral region of the neck, connecting between these a third of the cranial nerves and the greater cerebral venous drainage system.

Its complexity lies in the deep location, variability in shape and size in each skull, and even from side to side within the same skull, in addition to its irregular shape, the neurovascular structures that pass through it and the structures through which it is surrounded.

The purpose of this work was to carry out a laboratory study of anatomical specimens, identifying the various neural structures of the jugular foramen.

The main neural structures that cross it and the main differences in the Mexican population with respect to their comparison in world literature were to properly understand the predominant anatomy to help plan the ideal approach route.

Material and Methods: Measurements were taken with digital caliper of a total of 120 adult skulls, with a total of 240 jugular forages, measurements of the anteroposterior, and laterolateral diameter and measurements of the intrajugular process were made, the distance from the upper edge of the foramen to the lower edge of the duct was measured Internal auditory, from the lower edge of the FY to the foramen magno, from the most anterior edge of the FY to the trigeminal impression, the largest size between each foramen was taken into account.

Digital photographs were subsequently taken with a high-definition camera, exemplifying the measurements made; shots were taken from superior, posterior oblique, lateral views, and from the exocranean face.

The measurements found were analyzed using the SPSS software and plotted to obtain the results of the investigation. Surgical approaches to the jugular foramen were performed in cadaveric specimens.

Discussion and Conclusion: It will be important variations which are commented more specifically in the complete work, the data obtained serve as the basis for further studies, as well as support for decision making, regarding surgical approach.