Anatomical variation in the course, branches, and metrical measurement of the grooves, of the middle meningeal artery inside the skull

Abstract

Due to the importance of the middle meningeal artery (MMA), its course and branches in the medical and surgical interference of the cranial cavity, brain and meninges , as in case of tumor or traumas in the head, due to the variability in its divisions, length and diameter , so the present study designed to clarify the probable individual variation of this artery in 19 skulls ( obtained from the department of anatomy of Iraqi medical colleges. and five cadavers obtained from department of forensic medicine in Tikrit city). It was found that the middle meningeal artery once it leaves the foramen spinosum by about (1cm) it divides into frontal and posterior division in most of cases. The posterior division (PMMA) ascends upward and backward toward the occipital region. The frontal division (FMMA) sub divides into anterior frontal subdivision (AFMMA) and parietal frontal sub division (PrFMMA). Metrical measuremental parameters was also introduced to clarify the anatomical variation of the MMA