Background: The palmaris longus muscle (PLM) occurs in various forms in the human body, with its complete absence being the most common variation. Although the PLM is frequently used in reconstructive surgeries, its functional impact, especially on fine motor skills, remains unclear and has not been directly studied. Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether the presence or absence of the PLM affects gross grip strength, pinch grip strength, wrist joint proprioception, and fine motor skills, thereby determining if the PLM has a functional role in hand performance. Methods: A total of 497 individuals were assessed for the presence of the PLM. Of these, 36 individuals were found to lack the PLM unilaterally or bilaterally. For comparability, 35 individuals with the PLM were included in the analysis. Gross grip strength and pinch grip strength were measured using a hand dynamometer, wrist joint proprioception was assessed with a digital inclinometer, and fine motor skills were evaluated with the Purdue Pegboard Test. Results: No significant differences were found between individuals with the PLM and individuals without the PLM in terms of gross grip strength, pinch grip strength, wrist joint proprioception, or fine motor skills in either the dominant or nondominant hand (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The presence or absence of the PLM does not affect fine motor skills, grip strength, or wrist proprioception, suggesting it can be safely used for surgical grafting without functional loss in the hand.

Background/Objectives: The cranial base, especially the posterior cranial fossa, has openings with population-specific morphometry. This study aimed to assess the morphometric characteristics of the major posterior cranial fossa openings (foramen magnum, jugular foramen, internal acoustic opening) in the Turkish population and evaluate their utility for sex estimation. It also aimed to provide population-specific reference values for forensic anthropology and cranial base surgery. Methods: This prospective study included 304 adult skulls (151 female, 153 male) obtained from forensic autopsy cases, all of which had preserved anatomical integrity. Structures in the posterior cranial fossa were exposed following a standardized dissection protocol. A total of 18 morphometric parameters were measured using a digital caliper. Inter-sex comparisons were performed, and the diagnostic performance of the parameters for sex differentiation was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: All morphometric parameters and inter-foraminal distances were significantly larger in male individuals compared to females (p < 0.001). Similarly, ellipticity indices were higher in males than in females (all p < 0.001). ROC analysis revealed that right internal acoustic opening transverse diameter (RIAO-T), left and right jugular foramen transverse diameters (RJF-T and LJF-T) parameters possess exceptionally high discriminatory power, yielding accuracies greater than 99%. Conclusions: Components of the posterior cranial fossa exhibit marked sexual dimorphism in the Turkish population. These morphometric data provide valuable anatomical references for forensic identification, aid in preserving neurovascular structures, and support safe surgical planning in cranial base procedures.