RESUMO
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.