Morphometric Analysis of Infraorbital Foramen and Infraorbital Canal in Human Feotuses

Literature regarding analysis of infraorbital foramen and canal exists in adult but it is scanty in foetuses.Morphometric measurements were performed in sixty maxillae dissected out from thirty human foetuses.The latter were divided into five groups on the basis of age i.e. groups I(30 weeks IUL).Four parameters considered were length of infraorbital foramen and canal and width of anterior and posterior ends of infraorbital foramen. Range of measurements between the smallest foetal group to largest foetal group for length of infraorbital foramen and canal and width at the anterior and posterior ends of infraorbital foramen were 4.01mm to 6.00 mm,0.67 mm to 2.60 mm,0.64 mm to 1.65 mm and 1.39 mm to 3.01 mm, respectively.The shape of the infraorbital foramen is maintained in most of the groups.Correlation coefficient analysis between measurements of lengths and aging foetuses is indicative of variable osteoblastic and osteoclastic activities.Enhanced osteoblastic activity seems to be an important phenomenon in postnatal life.