An anatomical study of the pterygospinous bar and foramen of Civinini

Purpose

The pterygospinous ligament extends from the posterior free margin of the lateral pterygoid plate till the spine of the sphenoid. The ligament may ossify partly or completely leading to the formation of the pterygospinous bar. A complete ossification of the ligament results in the formation of the foramen of Civinini. Presence of the complete or incomplete pterygospinous bar may lead to a difficulty in passing the needle during anaesthesia for the trigeminal neuralgia or the bar may also compress the mandibular nerve and its branches to cause lingual numbness, pain and speech impairment.

Method

Presence of the complete or incomplete pterygospinous bar and the foramen of Civinini were studied in 55 dried adult skulls and 20 sphenoid bones.

Results

Partial or complete ossification of the pterygospinous ligament was seen in 17.33 % skulls. One skull showed the presence of bilateral complete pterygospinous bar while another skull had the unilateral complete pterygospinous bar on right side. Two skulls and one sphenoid had bilateral incomplete pterygospinous bar while seven skulls and one sphenoid bone had unilateral incomplete pterygospinous bar. In three cases, the bar was passing just below the foramen ovale.

Conclusion

The pterygospinous bar when present medial to the foramen ovale may not have much clinical significance but when the bar is present just below the foramen ovale, it may cause a compression of the mandibular nerve and its branches and may also obstruct the passage for the transoval approach to the neighbouring regions.