open access

Vol 73, No 1 (2014)
Original article
Submitted: 2012-12-24
Accepted: 2013-05-17
Published online: 2014-02-27
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Morphological and radiometrical study of the human intervertebral foramina of the cervical spine

S. H. Ahmed, E. A.A. El-Shaarawy, M. F. Ishaq, M. H. Abdel Moniem
DOI: 10.5603/FM.2014.0002
·
Folia Morphol 2014;73(1):7-18.

open access

Vol 73, No 1 (2014)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2012-12-24
Accepted: 2013-05-17
Published online: 2014-02-27

Abstract

Background: Degenerative changes of the cervical spine are an inevitable response to certain occupational status and aging processes. Compression of cervical nerve roots may result from disc degeneration, disc herniation or intervertebral foraminal stenosis. The precise and detailed anatomical knowledge of the intervertebral foramen of the cervical spine is essential for the diagnosis and management of cervical radiculopathy. The significance of the observations and findings of the present study was to elucidate the correlation between the morphology and disorders of the cervical intervertebral foramina in normal and pathological conditions especially at the level of C3-C4 to C6-C7 on both sides and in both sexes. Moreover, it will help greatly in the planning of both surgical and conservative strategies.

Materials and Methods: In the present study, 5 formalin-fixed adult cadavers and radiological specimens of the cervical region of the vertebral column of 28 normal and 209 subjects suffering from cervical disorder from both sexes and different age groups. They subjected for morphological and radiometrical analysis.

Results: All measurements of the present study of the cervical disorders in females were found to be 6% less than in males in all age groups, which is statistically significant (p < 0.01) as compared with the control group (2%). The mean intervertebral foraminal areas in the control group of C5-C6 and C6-C7 are significantly greater than those of C3-C4 and C4-C5.

Conclusions: The mean intervertebral foraminal area was greater in the lower cervical region than the upper in normal adult individuals. In pathological condition the affection of C3-C4 and C4-C5 intervertebral foramina was more due to narrower surface area. The pathology of cervical spine affecting the intervertebral foramina of female which complaint earlier than male due to narrower foramina.

Abstract

Background: Degenerative changes of the cervical spine are an inevitable response to certain occupational status and aging processes. Compression of cervical nerve roots may result from disc degeneration, disc herniation or intervertebral foraminal stenosis. The precise and detailed anatomical knowledge of the intervertebral foramen of the cervical spine is essential for the diagnosis and management of cervical radiculopathy. The significance of the observations and findings of the present study was to elucidate the correlation between the morphology and disorders of the cervical intervertebral foramina in normal and pathological conditions especially at the level of C3-C4 to C6-C7 on both sides and in both sexes. Moreover, it will help greatly in the planning of both surgical and conservative strategies.

Materials and Methods: In the present study, 5 formalin-fixed adult cadavers and radiological specimens of the cervical region of the vertebral column of 28 normal and 209 subjects suffering from cervical disorder from both sexes and different age groups. They subjected for morphological and radiometrical analysis.

Results: All measurements of the present study of the cervical disorders in females were found to be 6% less than in males in all age groups, which is statistically significant (p < 0.01) as compared with the control group (2%). The mean intervertebral foraminal areas in the control group of C5-C6 and C6-C7 are significantly greater than those of C3-C4 and C4-C5.

Conclusions: The mean intervertebral foraminal area was greater in the lower cervical region than the upper in normal adult individuals. In pathological condition the affection of C3-C4 and C4-C5 intervertebral foramina was more due to narrower surface area. The pathology of cervical spine affecting the intervertebral foramina of female which complaint earlier than male due to narrower foramina.

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Keywords

cervical spine, cervical radiology, cervical radiometry

About this article
Title

Morphological and radiometrical study of the human intervertebral foramina of the cervical spine

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 73, No 1 (2014)

Article type

Original article

Pages

7-18

Published online

2014-02-27

Page views

2729

Article views/downloads

2874

DOI

10.5603/FM.2014.0002

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2014;73(1):7-18.

Keywords

cervical spine
cervical radiology
cervical radiometry

Authors

S. H. Ahmed
E. A.A. El-Shaarawy
M. F. Ishaq
M. H. Abdel Moniem

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