The previously unrecognized posterior deep temporal nerve groove on the cranial base

A groove was observed in the infratemporal fossa region of the cranial base , passing laterally from the foramen ovale onto the squamous temporal bone. We could not find any description of this groove in the literature. It is hypothesized that, due to its location, the groove is formed by the posteri or deep temporal nerve. A study of the extent of this groove in 50 preconta ct New Zealand Maori adults (28 males, 22 females), 41 precontact Chatham I sland Moriori adults (27 males, 14 females), and 32 modern Indian adults (1 2 males, 20 females) showed that there was a very high prevalence of the gr oove in the Indian crania but much less so in either of the two Polynesian samples, in none of the groups studied was there any evidence of selective preference for the presence of the groove on one or other sides of the cran ial base. The evidence that the presence of the groove appears to be strong ly dependent on the ethnic group being studied may make it a useful non-met ric trait.