Incidence of Torus Palatinus in Yugoslav Skulls

BRANISLAV VIDI ¹

¹ Department of Anatomy, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri

The material examined comprised 200 male and 200 female Yugoslav skulls, ranging in age from 12 to 91 years. First of all, a general percentage of torus palatinus in this ethnic group was found. The percentages were calculated and the chi-square test was applied for each sex and for each age group. Percentages were also found for skulls with a low or a high palatum osseum, as well as for skulls with different morphological types of arcus alveolaris maxillae.

In 50.25 per cent of all cases, the palatum osseum was without a torus; in 45.50 per cent of all cases, a small torus was observed; and in 4.25 per cent of all cases, the palatum osseum was found to have a large torus. The general percentage of the small- or medium-sized tori (up to 3 mm. in elevation from the palate) was much higher than that of the larger ones (more than 3 mm. in elevation from the palate).

The torus palatinus was present in 57.50 per cent of the female skulls and in 42 per cent of the male skulls. The sexual difference in the occurrence of torus palatinus is statistically significant for the level slightly below 10 per cent.

Among the various age groups, a rise in the general percentage of torus palatinus was not found. Only in the group of oldest skulls (those over 72 years), did the percentage rise to 75. The difference in the occurrence of torus palatinus between the age groups is statistically significant for the level slightly above 10 per cent.

In a comparison between the two groups, the skulls with a high palatum osseum had, in 37.50 per cent of cases, a more- or less-developed torus, and those with a low palatum osseum had, in 59.70 per cent of cases, a torus palatinus.

Among the three morphological groups of arcus alveolaris maxillae, the highest percentage of torus palatinus was found in those skulls that had convergent crura (58.10). The skulls showing either divergent or parallel crura of the arcus alveolaris maxillae were found to have a lower percentage of torus palatinus than the skulls taken as a whole.