Asymmetry of the ovale and spinous foramina in mediaeval and contemporary skulls in radiological examinations.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the morphology and asymmetry of the ovale and spinous foramina. Examinations were carried out on 102 mediaeval and 85 contemporary male skulls. In both groups there predominated individuals who had died at mature (maturus) and adult (adultus) age. Radiological images in occipital projection were used in the study. Areas of the foramina ovale, distances between both openings and the distance from the midline running through the middle of the occipital foramen were calculated by means of PC software. The spinal foramen area could not be measured because of the too small surface accessible to the PC software used in our study. Correlation between the above measurements and cranial indexes (width-length and height-length) were calculated. Significant variety of the ovale and spinous foramina in size, shape, relation to each other and to the midline were analysed. Asymmetry of structure and location was observed in both examined groups of skulls. No cases of the lack of the ovale and spinous foramina were stated.