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Neurosurgical procedures in the region of the petroclival region of the skull base require unique knowledge of the local anatomy. The measurements of this region considering the visible anatomical landmarks are helpful both during surgery and while planning the general schemes for the approach. We have evaluated the anatomy of the anterior surface of the petrous bone and of the middle fossa taking into consideration the surgical removal of part of the petrous bone--the anterior petrosectomy. We have measured the distances and angles between the chosen structures in this region. The measurements were taken on 10 skulls, on both sides. The results enrich the algorithm of the anterior petrosectomy.

“Our Constitution ... is called democracy because power is in the hands not of a minority but of the greatest number.” This statement by Thukydides preceded the preamble of the draft constitutional treaty elaborated by the European Convention.1 Although not adopted by the intergovernmental conference, the proposed introduction illustrates that the Convention intended to attribute a central role to the concept of democracy — at least symbolically.