The sphenoidal canal
Sprinz, R.; Kaufman, M.H.
Journal of Anatomy 153: 47-54
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-8782 PMID: 3429326 Document Number: 295697
The sphenoidal canal is described in 57 out of 58 human perinatal sphenoid bones from disarticulated skeletons collected in Egypt from 1918-1928. The canal, which shows consideration variation, passes from the region of the sphenoidal rostrum, anterio-superiorly to the tuberculum sellae immediately behind the optic groove. The canal represents the bony surrounds (in the mid sagittal plane) of the synchondrosis between pre- and post-sphenoid. The arrangements suggest that this synchondrosis is only of limited importance as the late fetal period is reached. The spatial relationship between the craniopharyngeal (hypophyseal) canal and sphenoidal canal is given, and it is pointed out that the reason for the sphenoidal canal not being fully described previously is due to its being obscured in fetal skulls by the articulations between vomer and sphenoid.