Authors: Jelena Krmpotić Nemanić Ivan Vinter Tin Ehrenfreund Ana Marušić
Publish Date: 2008/12/17
Volume: 31, Issue: 5, Pages: 343-
Abstract
We investigated agerelated changes in the styloid process in 88 skulls aged from 5 months to 85 years of age The osseous styloid process was not well developed in children Its length increased significantly with age from 23 mm in 11–20 age group to 163 mm in 61–85 group In adolescent specimens 11–20 years of age the median distance from the styloid process to the stylomastoid foramen was 07–08 mm whereas in adult and old age specimens the two structures were completely adjacent or very close usually less than 02 mm The process was missing in 5 of the adult specimens There was a statistically significant positive association between the length of the styloid process with age r = 03210 95 CI 00817–05254 P = 00097 whereas the distance from the styloid process to the stylomastoid foramen significantly decreased with age r = −04518 95 CI −06167 to −02490 P = 00001 Changes in the length and shape of the styloid process reflected altered function of the three muscles originating from the styloid process—m stylopharyngeus m stylohyoideus and m styloglossus They have a common function of lifting the aerodigestive elements upward and backward after the descent of the aerodigestive tract and final morphological differentiation of the vocal system during puberty Relationship between altered muscle function and the morphology of the styloid process are important for understanding the clinical syndromes related to the styloid process such as Eagle’s syndrome
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