An Observational Study of the Pterygoalar Bar & Porus Crotaphitico Buccinatorius and its Clinical Correlations among North Indian Population

Background:The bony structures known as the "pterygoalar bar" develop when ligaments between the greater wing of the sphenoid bone and the lateral pterygoid plate ossify along the outer base of the skull, close to the foramen ovale.Dentists, anaesthetists, and neurosurgeons must understand how common the pterygoalar bar is.In addition to investigating the presence of related anatomical characteristics such as the foramen crotaphitico-buccinatorius, this study aims to determine whether the pterygoalar bar is present in dry human skulls and sphenoid bones.Methods: In the present study, fifty fully ossified adult skulls from the North Indian population were used for a cross-sectional anatomy investigation.The skulls were taken from the Dept of Anatomy, Varun Arjun Medical College and Rohilkhand Hospital in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh and Maharishi Markandeshwar College of Medical Science & Research in Ambala, Haryana.Results: Out of 50 skulls, 76% had no ossification of the pterygoalar ligament.In the remaining 24%, ossification was present.Specifically, 4% had bilateral complete bars, 12% had unilateral complete bars, and 8% had incomplete bars.Conclusion: For anaesthetists, surgeons, and dentists, understanding the full or partial ossification of ligaments in this area is essential.The mandibular nerve and its branches are susceptible to entrapment neuropathy due to these ossified structures, which are closely associated with the foramen ovale.