Analyses of correlations between the measured values of the foramen ovale of dry skulls and those of roentgenographic skull base films of the corresponding specimens were carried out in 99 male adult skulls collected from the vicinity of Shanghai. The items in our studies included the length and width of the foramen ovale

the angle between the longitudinal diameter and the sagittal plane running through the intermaxillary suture

the distance from the foramen ovale to the foramen spinosum and that to the sagittal plane

and the distance from the foramen spinosum to the sagittal plane.Significant correlations(P<0.01)were found between all the measured values of the. above mentioned items of dry skulls on both sides and those of the roentgenographic skull base films of the corresponding specimens. The results of the measurments of the symmetry for sizes of foramen ovales on the right and left sides were different in dry skull with that of the corresponding X-ray films. It is suggested then that the real size and position of the foramen ovale of the skull could be correctly calculated with linear regression equation

but the symmetry of the foramen ovale of the skull could not be evaluated from the X-ray film of the base of skull