Vol 62, No 4 (2003)
Original article
Published online: 2003-09-05
Anatomical variants of the cervical vertebrae and the first thoracic vertebra in man
Folia Morphol 2003;62(4):357-363.
Abstract
Anatomical variants of the cervical part of the human spine were investigated.
Morphological variants were studied on 100 cervical vertebrae (37 female and
63 male). The greatest variability was demonstrated by the first cervical vertebra
or atlas. The presence of some accessory bony arches embracing the vertebral
artery was observed, namely the posterior bridge restraining the arcuate foramen
(13.8%) and the lateral bridge restraining the transversovertical foramen
(2%). Split posterior (3%) or anterior (1%) arches of the atlas were also encountered
in this material. The superior articular face of the atlas divided into two
parts was found in 47.8%. Variants of the remaining cervical vertebrae were
limited only to the presence of a division of the transverse process foramina or
their incomplete closure. Some of these anatomical variants may be a cause of
certain clinical symptoms which have previously been described in the literature.
Keywords: cervical vertebraeanatomyvariantshuman
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