The paramastoid process : a survey of 890 Maltese skulls

Abstract

The paramastoid process is a bony projection on the lateral part of the undersurface of the jugular process of the occipital bone. It is constant in the skull of certain animals but occurs only as an occasional anomaly in man. A study has been made of the paramastoid process. Its etiology, incidence, morphological characteristics, its functional significance in animals, and the clinical manifestations it can give rise to are described. A survey of 890 Maltese skulls revealed the presence of paramastoid process in 18 of them - an incidence of 2.02%. Four of the cases were of the articular type and there were 2 rare cases of atlanto-paramastoid synostosis - one unilateral, and the other bilateral and accompanied by synostosis of both atlanto-occipital joints. The survey was carried out by medical students C. Gauci and R. Farrugia Randon and by the writer. In addition, two tables indicate the incidence of paramatoid process in the human skull and the details of the paramastoid processes found in Maltese skulls.