Anatomy and morphometry of the hypoglossal canal

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the localizationand the shape of hypoglossal canal (HC) on skulls and to find outthe distances between this area and anatomic landmarks.Methods: This study was performed on the craniums of 50(100 sides) adult West Anatolian People. Eight morphometricmeasurements of the distances between parts were taken of theskulls using a Vernier caliper accurate 0.01 mm. The resultswere evaluated statistically with SPSS 15.0.Results: HC was found as a separated canal on 23 sides. Thelenght of the HC, the width of the occipital condyl, the distance between of the entrance of the HC and crista occipitalisexterna, the distance between of the anterior point of the rightand the left occipital condyl, the distance between of the posterior point of the right and the left occipital condyl and thethickness of the occipital condyl were found on the right andthe left sides 9.28 mm and 8.77 mm; 11.76 mm, and 12.12 mm;23.28 mm and 22.89 mm; 28.81 mm and 29.30 mm; 19.03 mm;33.82 mm; 9.30 mm, 8.90 mm, respectively.Conclusion: The localization of HC and the distancesbetween this canal and anatomic landmarks may be useful forscrew replacement during the operation of the transcondylarand the supracondylar approach of the neurosurgery.Keywords: hy