The sphenoidal canal.

The sphenoidal canal is described in perinatal material, and was found in 57 out of 58 disarticulated human skeletal remains collected in Egypt between 1918 and 1928. The canal showed considerable variations in extent and morphology, but ran essentially from the region of the developing rostrum of the sphenoid in an anterosuperior direction to end in the tuberculum sellae, immediately behind the optic groove. The canal represents the impression left by the remnants of the sphenoidal synchondrosis between the presphenoid and postsphenoid. The arrangement suggests that as a growth area this synchondrosis is of limited importance once the perinatal period is reached. The spatial relationship between craniopharyngeal and sphenoidal canals is described.