Advances in Biology & Earth Sciences

This study investigated the relationship between hypophyseal fossa shape and cranial type, age and sex using computed tomography (CT). A retrospective analysis of 84 CT scans (45 males and 39 females) obtained from the archive of the Educational Surgical Clinic of the Azerbaijan Medical University was performed. The sample was stratified into four age groups and classified into dolichocephalic, mesocephalic and brachycephalic cranial types based on the cranial index. The results demonstrated that hypophyseal fossa morphology is significantly associated with cranial type, age and sex (all p<0.05). The round shape predominated in brachycephalic skulls (42.9%), while oval and flat forms were more common in mesocephalic skulls. Dolichocephalic skulls showed similar frequencies of round and flat forms. Round shape was more frequent in males (40.0%, Cramér’s V=0.22), oval in females (38.4%). Round shape prevailed in the 7-12-year group (44.4%), with a shift toward flat shape in older groups. Significant differences in cranial length and width existed among cranial types for round fossae (η²=0.18-0.22, medium effects). Males had greater cranial width than females. CT imaging proved to be an effective method for assessing morphometric variations of the hypophyseal fossa and cranial characteristics across age groups. Effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals are reported in the Results section.