Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com Abbreviations: mm², square millimeter; FMs, foramens magnus; M, male; F, female; %, percentage Introduction The knowledge of the biometrics of the foramen magnum (FM) is of great importance in the pathophysiology of several conditions, as well as for anthropology, anatomy and forensic medicine. According to Muthukumar et al. 1 based on morphometric limits, it would be possible to report the possibility that the FM would be within a predetermined numerical variation or an anatomical malformation. In addition, the study of the FM region is important and is necessary in view of the increased transcondylar approach for ventral access of lesions at the craniocervical junction. Smoker 2 stated that the confguration and size of the FM play an important role in the pathophysiology of several diseases of the craniocervical junction. Thus, it becomes important not only for the physician who diagnoses it, but also for the surgeon who operates on this region. Teixeira 3 Günay &Altinkök 4 Gruber et al., 5 Gapert et al., 6 studied the biometry of the foramen magnum for gender identifcation and human biological characterization and evaluated its importance in a criminal laboratory and in accidents, since this region remained unscathed due to being heavily protected by soft tissues. Although the morphometric limits have already been detailed in some anatomical studies, the analysis of the dimensions of the foramen magnum using imaging technology is still scarce in the literature. 7 Our objective was to determine the area of the foramen magnum using the ImageJ software, and to correlate it with the formulas of Radinsky 8 and Teixeira 3 Materials and methods 104 foramina magna of dry human skulls were analyzed, belonging to the anatomical collection of Universidade Tiradentes (UNIT) and Universidade Federal de Sergipe (UFS). Of that total number 62 were male, 42 were female, with ages ranging from 11 to 91 years (average of 58.69 years old). Only skulls with intact occipital region were included in the sample and determined as to sex and age. In each skull, the area of the foramens magnum (FM) was calculated using the ImageJ software (Figure 1), and using the formulas of Radinsky 8 and Teixeira 3 (Figure 2). To perform the calculation with the ImageJ software, the skull bases were photographed using a digital camera attached to a static support, positioned at a standard distance MOJ Anat Physiol. 2020;7(6):169‒171. 169 ©2020 Aragão et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially. Biometric analysis of the area of the foramen magnum using the ImageJ software, and its correlation with the Radinsky and Teixeira formulas Volume 7 Issue 6 - 2020 José Aderval Aragão, 1,3 Iapunira Catarina Sant’Anna Aragão, 2 Felipe Matheus Sant’Anna Aragão, 2 Marcos Guimarães de Souza Cunha, 2 Victor Petersen Dantas Moreno, 3 Victoria Rezende de Brito, 3 João Vitor Santana Souza, 3 Danilo Ribeiro Guerra, 1 Francisco Prado Reis 3 1 Department of Morphology, Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), Brazil 2 Medical School, University Center of Volta Redonda (UNIFOA), Brazil 3 Medical School of Tiradentes University (UNIT), Brazil Correspondence: José Aderval Aragão, Federal University of Sergipe, Marechal Rondon Avenue, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil, Tel +55-79-991916767, Email Received: October 28, 2020 | Published: November 12, 2020 Abstract Introduction: The knowledge of biometrics in the area of the foramen magnum is of importance in the pathophysiology of several disorders of the craniocervical junction, as well as for anthropology, anatomy and forensic medicine. The analysis of the area using image technology is still very scarce in the literature. Objective: Determine the area of the foramen magnum using ImageJ and correlate it with the areas calculated by the formulas of Radinsky and Teixeira. Methodology: 104 human dry skulls of adults were studied, 62 male and 42 female, belonging to the anatomy laboratories of the Universities: Tiradentes (UNIT) and Federal de Sergipe (UFS). To calculate the area of the foramen magnum, the ImageJ software was used, while the measures, length and width, were performed using a digital caliper. The areas calculated by ImageJ were compared to those calculated using the Radinsky and Teixeira formula. Results: The area of the foramen magnum measured by ImageJ ranged from 532.14 to 1135.79mm², with an overall average of 758.71mm². According to Radinsky’s formula, the area of the foramen magnum varied from 610.35 to 1233.09mm², with an average of 828.25mm²; and in Teixeira, the area ranged from 633.67 to 1241.29mm², with an average of 840.16mm². The Cronbach’s alpha correlating the three methods was equal to 0.950. Conclusion: The calculation of the area of the foramen magnum, using the ImageJ software was signifcantly close to the area calculated by the formulas of Radinsky and Teixeira (Cronbach’s alpha=0.950), proving to be useful for forensic practice. Sexual dismorphism can be found, varying its appearance in literature, but only in relation to its size, but not its shape. However some other authors seem to have not found any sexual dismorphism. Keywords: sexual dimorphism, anatomy, anthropometry, foramen magnum, occipital bone, software validation, skull base, biometry, forensic medicine, ImageJ software MOJ Anatomy & Physiology Research Article Open Access