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Abstract:
The posterior part of the occipital condyles exhibits a depression known as the condylar fossa. The superior articular facet of the atlas is accommodated within this fossa during movements of the atlanto occipital joint. Rarely within this fossa does a foramen be present which is called as the condylar canal or the posterior condylar canal 1. This foramen can be either unilateral or bilateral and the foramen may or may not be patent ( 1 ). If the foramen is patent, it usually transmits an emissary vein to the sigmoid sinus and nerves which supply the duramater of the posterior cranial fossa. This emissary vein is called as the posterior condylar vein which connects the veins present in the sub occipital triangle with that of the sigmoid sinus.(2)Here,the various variations found in condylar foramen and condylar canal was discussed below as follows.
Key Words: Condylar canal, condylar foramen, condylar fossa and jugular foramen.
Introduction:
The condylar canal (or condyloid canal) is a canal in the condyloid fossa of the lateral parts of occipital bone behind the occipital condyle. The posterior condylar canal is the largest emissary foramen of the posterior cranial fossa. It is apparent just posteroinferior to the jugular foramen and posterior to the hypoglossal canal. (3)The Condylar canal gives way to a condylar emissary vein from sigmoid sinus to vertebral vein between the axis and atlas, in most cases 1 or between the superior bulb of the internal jugular vein and suboccipital venous plexus.(4).The posterior condylar foramen is located behind the condylar of the occipital bone.
Discussion about the past founded variations:
The condylar canal opens at the base of the skull just behind the occipital condyles. The patency of the channel depends upon the condylar emissary vein which runs along its path. Krause discovered condylar canal was present bilaterally...