Petro-occipital fissure

Changed by Andrew Dixon, 6 Feb 2016

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Petro-occipital ~~fissure~~synchondrosis

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The petro-occipital synchondrosis, also know as the ~~junction between~~petroclival synchondrosis,is a primary cartilaginous joint between the basilar part of the occipital bone and the petrous temporal bone. 'Fissure' and 'junction' are other terms used to describe this structure, however synchondrosis is technically more correct.

Gross anatomy

It is a skull base landmark located in the anterior portion of the posterior fossa.

Relations and boundaries

anterior: foramen lacerum
medial: basilar part of the occipital bone
lateral: petrous temporal bone
posterior: jugular foramen

Related pathology

The fissure is clinically important as it is often associated with skeletal myxoid chondrosarcomas of the skull base (~66% of cranial base chondrosarcomas). ~~See also: clavicle tumours~~ ³.

-<p>The <strong>petro-occipital fissure (POF) </strong>corresponds to the junction between the basilar part of the <a href="/articles/occipital-bone">occipital bone</a> and the <a href="/articles/petrous-part-of-temporal-bone">petrous temporal bone</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>It is a skull base landmark located in the anterior portion of the posterior fossa.</p><h5>Relations and boundaries</h5><ul>
+<p>The <strong>petro-occipital synchondrosis</strong>, also know as the <strong>petroclival synchondrosis</strong>,<strong> </strong>is a <a href="/articles/cartilaginous-joints">primary cartilaginous joint</a> between the basilar part of the <a href="/articles/occipital-bone">occipital bone</a> and the <a href="/articles/petrous-part-of-temporal-bone">petrous temporal bone</a>. 'Fissure' and 'junction' are other terms used to describe this structure, however <a href="/articles/synchondrosis">synchondrosis</a> is technically more correct. </p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>It is a skull base landmark located in the anterior portion of the posterior fossa.</p><h5>Relations and boundaries</h5><ul>
-</ul><h4>Related pathology</h4><p>The fissure is clinically important as it is often associated with skeletal myxoid chondrosarcomas of the skull base (~66% of cranial base chondrosarcomas). See also: clavicle tumours <sup>3</sup>.</p>
+</ul><h4>Related pathology</h4><p>The fissure is clinically important as it is often associated with skeletal myxoid chondrosarcomas of the skull base (~66% of cranial base chondrosarcomas). .</p>