The Jugular Foramen and the Intracranial Volume; Are they Related?

Abstract: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between the size of a human skull foramen and the intracranial volume (skull capacity). A total number of 91 human skulls were studied to determine the volume of the foramina and the intracranial volume. The volumes of the foramina were determined by using the formula pie r2h (the geometrical formula of a cone-shaped figure) where ‘r’ is the radius of the effluent aperture, ‘h’ the depth of the foramen and B is a constant. The intracranial volume was determined indirectly by filling intracranial cavity with millets through the foramen magnum and then measuring the contained quantity in a volumetric jar. The mean values for the left and right foramina volume were 0.742±0.25 and 1.049±0.26 mL (p0.05)]. A significant negative correlation (direct relationship) [r-value = -0.225, p-value = 0.04 (p