ABSTRACT:
Introduction: Occipital emissary foramina is always been an area of interest for neuroanatomist. It is present in the squamous part of occipital bone at occipital protuberance. Occipital emissary vein are important source of bleeding during surgeries. Aim: To identify the occipital emissary foramina in adult human skulls and to study their clinical implications. Objective: To distinguish normal from potentially abnormal structures and to review the literature on anatomical and clinical aspects of occipital emissary foramina. Background: An occipital emissary foramina has been described by several authors. This foramina is present in the squamous part of the occipital bone at occipital protuberance and it transmits a vein that connects sigmoid sinus with the veins of sub-occipital venous plexus. Reason: Anatomical variations of foramina of skull have been of interest for neuroanatomist due to clinical consequence that these structures can cause problems especially in areas such as neurosurgery and dentistry. Conclusion: The present study revealed that occipital emissary foramina occurred more frequently than that of which was described in the literature.