Double hypoglossal canal: Study on crania of South Indian population and its clinical significance

Background: Hypoglossal canal is a permanent component of skull of human and animal. Situated anterior to occipital condyles, transmits hypoglossal nerve and meningeal branch of ascending pharyngeal artery and emissary vein. Aim: To find the incidence of double hypoglossal canal in crania of South Indian population and its clinical importance. Materials and Methods: 84 macerated dry skulls of unknown age and sex were collected from Department of Anatomy, ESIC Medical College Gulbarga and from Sharavathi Dental College Shivamogga Karnataka, India. Each skull was observed for doubling of hypoglossal canal. Results: Out of 84 skulls, 29 skulls showed doubling of hypoglossal canal. Among them 10 showed bilateral duplication and 19 unilateral (10 on right and 9 on left side). Incidence calculated as 34.5%. Conclusion: Double hypoglossal canal is important clinically, it may trap the hypoglossal nerve during ossification of occipital bone and useful for surgeons and radiologists and anthropologists