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. 2023 Mar 24;12(4):492.
doi: 10.3390/biology12040492.

Osseous Bridges of the Sphenoid Bone: Frequency, Bilateral and Sex Distribution

Silviya Nikolova  1 , Diana Toneva  1 , Dora Zlatareva  2 , Nevena Fileva  2
Affiliations

Osseous Bridges of the Sphenoid Bone: Frequency, Bilateral and Sex Distribution

Silviya Nikolova et al. Biology (Basel). .

Abstract

Sellar (caroticoclinoid and interclinoid), pterygospinous and pterygoalar bridges are osseous bars of the sphenoid bone, which enclose additional foramina in the skull base and could cause entrapment of nerves, occlusion of vessels and obstruction of surgical corridors. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of sphenoid bone bridges in Bulgarians and to assess the bilateral and sex differences in their distribution. This study was performed on head CT scans of 315 Bulgarians, 148 males and 167 females. The sellar bridges were the most common type of sphenoid bridging; particularly the caroticoclinoid bridge. The pterygospinous bridge was a relatively common finding and the pterygoalar bridge was the most infrequent type of bridging. The total frequency of sellar bridges did not differ significantly between both sides and sexes. The pterygospinous bridge did not indicate significant bilateral differences but showed considerable sex differences concerning the left-side occurrence, which was significantly higher in the male series. There were no considerable bilateral and sex differences in the distribution of the pterygoalar bridging. There were no significant correlations between the different types of sphenoid bone bridges, but each type of bridging showed significant positive correlations between the right and left side co-occurrence in males and females.

Keywords: caroticoclinoid foramen; interclinoid bridge; pterygoalar (Hyrtl’s) foramen; pterygoalar bridge; pterygospinous (Civinini’s) foramen; pterygospinous bridge.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sellar bridges: (a) CcB (Type I): an incomplete CcB on the right side and a complete CcB enclosing CcF on the left side; (b) IcB (Type II): a complete form on both sides; (c) IcB (Type II) mixed type: an incomplete CcB and IcB on the right side and an incomplete CcB (Type I) on the left side; (d) IcB (Type II) mixed type: an incomplete CcB and contact IcB on both sides; (e) IcB (Type III): a complete IcB on the right side and an incomplete IcB on the left side; (f) IcB (Type III): a complete IcB on the right side and a contact IcB on the left side. Abbreviations: CcB—caroticloclinoid bridge, CcF—caroticoclinoid foramen; IcB—interclinoid bridge. Designations: red arrows point to the osseous bridges (complete and incomplete ones).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pterygospinous bridge: (a) a bilateral complete PsB, enclosing PsF; (b,c) a complete PsB on the right side and an incomplete PsB on the left side; (d) an unilateral (right-sided) complete PsB. Designations: red arrows point to PsBs; black arrows point to foramen ovale. Abbreviation: PsB—pterygospinous bridge, PsF—pterygospinous foramen.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pterygoalar bridge: (a) a bilateral complete PaB, enclosing PaF; (b) a complete PaB on the right side and an in complete PaB on the left side; (c) a unilateral (right-sided) complete PaB; (d) an incomplete PsB on the right side and a complete PaB on the left side. Designations: red arrows point to PsBs; black arrows point to foramen ovale. Abbreviation: PaB—pterygoalar bridge, PaF—pterygoalar foramen, PsB—pterygospinous bridge.
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