الفهرس 
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Abstract
The foramina of the skull, their size, shape, symmetry, variations and location have long attracted the attention of anatomists, anthropologists, forensic experts and clinicians because of their clinical, radiographic and evolutionary significance Mishra et al., 2016.
The vertebral column is a part of the axial skeleton of man which has to perform particular tasks. The vertebrae of the cervical part of the vertebral column demonstrates the greatest variability. (Wysocki et al , 2003).
The study aims to evaluate the morphological and morphometric variations of the main foramina of the skull and the spinal canal of cervical vertebrae.
The study has been carried out on 100 randomly selected dry skulls to study the main foramina .These foramina were measured and the symmetry of paired foramina was noted. The average, largest, and smallest sizes of the different foramina were listed. Specific data on each foramen has been studied.
The study on 100 cervical vertebrae has been done for evaluation of 100 spinal canal and its dimentions. The study has been done using a vernier caliper with 0.01 mm accuracy. The caliper was placed within each forramen and the widest transverse and anteroposterior diameters was measured.
• Foramen magnum was seen to have round oval and diamond shape with AP diameter larger than transverse diameter, with mean AP(33mm),T(29mm).
• Jugular foramen was shown to have dome, with septation (complete, partial or no septum)with meanAP (9.7 R,8.9 L),T(12.8 R,11.9L).
• Hypoglossal canal had round or oval shape with meanAP(5.2R,5.2L), T(4.6R, 5.0L).
• Carotid canal was seen round or oval with direction (infero-medial or infero-lateral).The mean AP(5.8R,5.8L),T(6.4R,6.5L.).
• Condylar canal may be absent or present and closed in some skulls,the mean AP(3.2R,3.0L),T(3.2R,2.9L).
• Stylomastoid foramen had round or oval shape,the mean AP(2.9R,2.8L),T(2.3R,2.4L).
• IOM was present and round in all skulls. The mean AP(4.1R,4.5L),T(4.7R,4.7L).
• Foramen ovale had different shapes (oval, round D shape, longitudinal and irregular) ,its outline may have bony structure(plate, spine or tubercle) with mean AP(7.2R,7.3L),T(4.4R,4.6L).
• Foramen spinosum had round or oval shape and may be doubled. The mean AP(2.5R,2.6L),T(2.4R,2.3L).
• Foramen Vesalius was sometimes present in opened skulls.
• Foramen rotundum was rounded in all skulls with mean AP (3.9R,3.8L),T(3.9R,3.9L).
• Optic canal was rounded in shape with mean AP (4.1R,4.3L), T(4.6R,4.7L).
• The greater palatine foramen was present opposite 2nd or 3rd molar or between them,with mean distance from incisive foramen(36.5R,36.7L).
• Supraorbital notch was more frequent than foramen,with the mean distance from nasion(23.4R,23.3L).
• Infraorbital foramen was present below the orbital margin by about 6.5mm.
• The spinal canal was with widest diameterat atlas (AP.29 mm. T.28 mm) then became narrower at axis (AP.19.2 mm. T.23mm) and narrowest at typical(AP.12.8mm.T.22mm), then increased in diameter again in 7th vertebrae(AP.13.4mm.T.23.2mm).
Conclusion:
1-The foramina of the skull had different shapes and different diameters.
2-Not all the foramina were symmetrical as there were significant change between the two sides in jugular, hypoglossal, condylar, and supraorbital foramen.
3-There are variations in some foramina which should be noticed in surgery.
4- The spinal canal changes in diameter in each level.
Recommendation:
1-Variations in the foramina should be considered in surgery.
2-More researches are needed for study of the foramina.