Department of Diagnostic Imaging of the Central Clinical Hospital of the Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
PLoS One. 2019 Jun 27;14(6):e0218885. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218885. eCollection 2019.
Typically, cervical vertebrae display bifid spinous processes. Nevertheless, this feature may vary both between subjects and even within the vertebrae of the same individual. Although such variation can be important in archaeological research, anthropological studies and forensic medicine, it has not so far been the subject of any detailed studies.
An analysis of 200 cervical spine CT examinations was performed. The morphology of the spinous process was evaluated, and new anthropometric parameters were selected to allow a more precise quantitative analysis of the degree of bifidity.
The spinous process base (i.e. the part of the spinous process which was not bifid) was significantly longer in CII and CVII than in the other vertebrae. The spinous process branches (bifid elements) were significantly longer in CVI and CVII than in the other vertebrae. The angle between the branches was significantly sharper in CII and CVII than in CIII-CVI, on the right side, and CIII-CV, on the left side. On the right side, the branching coefficient (degree of branch development) was significantly higher for CII and significantly lower for CVI-CVII than for the other vertebrae. On the left side, the coefficient was significantly higher for CII and CIV, and significantly lower for CVI-CVII, compared to the other vertebrae.
Our findings highlight new objective parameters of morphological variability in the spinous processes of the cervical spine. They can form the basis of a new detailed differentiation of vertebrae and can represent an independent determinant of anatomical variability in the cervical spine.
通常情况下，颈椎的棘突呈分叉状。然而，这种特征在个体之间甚至同一椎体的棘突之间都可能存在差异。尽管这种变异在考古学研究、人类学研究和法医学中可能很重要，但迄今为止，尚未对此进行任何详细研究。
对 200 例颈椎 CT 检查进行了分析。评估了棘突的形态，并选择了新的人体测量学参数，以便更精确地定量分析分叉的程度。
CII 和 CVII 的棘突基底部（即棘突未分叉的部分）明显长于其他椎体。CVI 和 CVII 的棘突分支（分叉元素）明显长于其他椎体。右侧 CII 和 CVII 与 CIII-CVI 之间，以及左侧 CIII-CV 与 CIII-CVI 之间的分支角度明显更尖锐。右侧 CII 和 CVII 的分支系数（分支发育程度）明显高于其他椎体，而 CVI-CVII 则明显低于其他椎体。左侧 CII 和 CIV 的系数明显高于其他椎体，而 CVI-CVII 的系数则明显低于其他椎体。
我们的研究结果强调了颈椎棘突形态变异的新客观参数。它们可以作为新的详细区分椎体的基础，并可以作为颈椎解剖变异的独立决定因素。
