VARIOUS TYPES OF SUPRAMEATAL SPINES AND DEPRESSIONS IN THE HUMAN TEMPORAL BONE

Since it covers the lateral wall of the mastoid air system, the supram eatal triangle is of importance to otologic surgeons during mastoidect omy. Because of this clinical importance, topographic anatomy of the s uprameatal spine and depression was studied on Anatolian skulls. In al l, 363 male and 231 female skulls were studied. The most prevalent typ e of suprameatal spine resembled a crest and was found in both sexes o n the right (77.6%) and left (80%) sides. The absence of a suprameatal depression was significantly higher in females (right 9.1%; left 8.7% ) than in males (right 1.7%; left 2.5%). Suprameatal depressions were mostly shallow in female subjects, but were mostly observed in males t o be at a medium depth or deep.