A condylar imprint of Farabeuf's knocker and associated cervical variants.

Abstract

Different head and neck anatomical structures, such as the temporomandibular joint, carotid arteries and their branches, styloid process, hyoid and thyroid cartilage, are subjected to anatomical variations. A range of novel and rare anatomical variants were found during the anatomical exploration of a DICOM file. The archived angioCT file of a 63-year-old male was examined anatomically. There were no pathological processes or other artefacts to distort the anatomical patterns. The imprint of Farabeuf's knocker (posterior zygomatic tubercle) on the posterior side of the right mandibular condyle was found. This is an anatomical novelty. Rare neck variations were found: a right-tilted and collapsed hyoid bone over the thyroid cartilage and the agenesis of the left superior horn of this cartilage. Variations of the external carotid arteries' branches were observed. A right thyrolingual trunk gave off a superior thyroid artery that supplied both thyroid lobes with distinctive right and left branches, the opposite superior thyroid artery being absent. On both sides, the superficial temporal artery coursed over the temporomandibular joints. The right internal carotid artery coiled immediately beneath the skull base. It is recommended that CT scans be carefully explored, as various concomitant anatomical variations, including rare or previously unreported findings, may be encountered.