MEASUREMENTS OF CERVICAL VERTEBRAE AND THEIR CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCES / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

All the cervical vertebrae and the first thoracic vertebra (totalled 816 vertebrae) were measured from 102 sets of Chinese skeletons.The average values of the measurements of various aspects are reported as follows (1) The antero-posterior and right-to-left diameters of the vertebral foramen were 15.47?1.11 mm and 22.58?1.22 mm respectively. (2) The antero-posterior diameters of the upper and lower surfaces of the vertebral body measured 15.66?1.12 mm and 24.16?1.12 mm and the left to right diameters measured 16.28?1.14 mm and 22.85?1.24 mm respectively. (3) The distance between the two superior articular processes was 23.12? 1.23 mm. (4) The height and width of the dens of the axis were 18.40?1.20 mm and 10.09?1.02 mm respectively. (5) The width of the cervical intervertebral foramen was 6.68?0.50 mm, and its height was 7.85?0.54 mm. (6) The width of the vertebral arterial groove of the atlas was 5.71?0.48 mm. (7) Variations of the foramen of transverse process for the vertebral artery were observed, and their freguency of occurrence was reported.According to the criteria obtained, the diagnosis and the treatment of various types of cervical spondylosis are discussed.