THE SAGITTAL AND TRANSVERSE DIAMETERS OF CHINESE SPINAL CANAL / 解剖学报

The sagittal and transverse diameters of spinal canal were measured from 344 cases including dry specimens,preserved vertebral colomns and X-ray films.Based on these data several conclusions have been drawn. (1)The morphology of spinal canal is consistent with the external feature of spinal cord. (2)The mean values of various measurement of cervical(C),thoracic(T),and lumbar(L)vertebrae of spinal canal in dry specimens are as follows: Transverse diameter(mm.) Sagittal diameter(mm.) C T L C T L Male 23.6 16.7 23.4 14.4 14.9 16.5 Eemale 23.1 16.1 22.4 13.7 14.2 16.0 (3)The mean values of measurement of spinal canal in X-ray films are as fol- lows: Transverse diameter(mm.) Sagittal diameter(mm.) L C L Male 27.8 16.5 19.8 Female 27.0 15.7 19.1 The data measured from X-ray films are approximately 20% larger than those from the actual specimens. (4)The ratio between the sagittal diameters of the cervical canal and vertebral body is 80～90% in male and 90～100% in female.The normal ratio between the products of sagittal and transverse diameters of the lumbar spinal canal and of the vertebral body is 1:4.Ratios lower than this value is considered to denote a diagnostic significance for spinal stenosis.

THE MEASUREMENT AND OBSERVATION OF THE TRANSVERSE FORAMINA OF THE CERVICAL VERTEBRAE AND THE CALIBRE OF THE VERTEBRAL ARTERY / 解剖学报

1.The sagittal and transverse diameters of 1,456 transverse foramina in 728cervical vertebrae were measured.The data are as follows:transverse diameter(mm) sagittal diameter (mm)Left Right Left RightMale(702 cases) 6.0?1.0 5.9?1.1 5.4?1.2 5.3?1.1Female(754 cases) 5.9?1.0 5.8?1.1 5.3?1.1 5.1?1.12.Among the 710 transverse foramina of 357 cervical vertebrae observed,mostof them are of the elliptical type.3.19.3% of double transverse foramen were found in 710 transverse foraminawhich were mostly encountered at the 6 th cervical vertebra.4.The mean value of the external diameter of the cervical part of the vertebralartery is 4?0.7mm.in 40 sides of specimens.5.63.1% of the vertebral artery in the 710 transverse foramina were foundmedial to its accompanying vein.6.According to the relationship between the sagittal(X_1)and transversediameter(X_2)of the transverse foramen and the diameter(Y)of the vertebralartery,a formula,(?)=1.859+0.172 X_1+0.24 X_2,of multiple regression was formulatedThus,the estimated diameter of the vertebral artery from the sagittal diameter X_1and transverse diameter X_2 of the transverse foramen could be obtained and it maybe helpful for clinical practice.7.In case of arthrosis,the vertebral artery could be compressed by the unco-vertebral joint which are found mostly at the level of the 4～5th cervicalvertebrae.