Protas Matthew, Cardona Juan J, Chaiyamoon Arada, Ezra David, Glynn Ryan M, Keshavarzi Sassan, Iwanaga Joe, Dumont Aaron S, Tubbs R Shane
Department of Neurosurgery, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, USA.
Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, USA.
Cureus. 2022 Dec 13;14(12):e32471. doi: 10.7759/cureus.32471. eCollection 2022 Dec.
Introduction The (a French term meaning "indentation") of the cervical vertebrae is the poorly defined articular part on the inferolateral aspect of the cervical spine body, which, with the uncinate processes of the associated caudal vertebra, makes up the joints of Luschka (uncovertebral joint). With no known previous studies on the , the present anatomical study aimed to better elucidate this structure, its prevalence, and its relationships to the adjacent intervertebral foramen and uncinate process. Methods We observed 50 adult cervical spines (100 sides) for the presence of an . When an was identified, its morphometry was documented and photographed. Measurements included the width and height of the . The relationship with the adjacent uncinate process was also studied. Any correlation between the size and shape of the adjacent uncinate process and the was recorded. Results An was found at all levels of the cervical vertebrae except at C1 and C7 and was clearly visible on 88% of the sides. The , more or less, conformed to the reciprocal shape of the uncinate process, which was found on all sides. The shapes were roughly arched, ovoid, or linear. These structures were always in an anterolateral position on the body of the vertebra and just outside the apophyseal ring. The mean height of the was 2.1 mm. The length of the uncinate process correlated positively (r=0.8) to the size of the adjacent . The height of the was inversely related to the diameter of the adjacent intervertebral foramen. The mean width was 8.3 mm. These structures tended to be largest at C3 and C4 vertebral levels and were smallest at C5 and C6 levels. The was most in contact with the uncinate process with lateral flexion of the cervical spine and in specimens with a longer uncinate process, e.g., C6. The was also found to be wider in cases of cervical spine degeneration involving the body of the cervical vertebrae. Degeneration of the uncovertebral joint was most often seen at the and not at the adjacent uncinate process. Conclusions We found that the is found in the majority of cervical spines. These structures tended to be largest at C3 and C4 vertebral levels and were smallest at C5 and C6 levels, and they had more prominence when the adjacent uncinate process was enlarged. The should be considered a normal feature of the inferolateral aspect of the cervical vertebrae. Future clinical studies are necessary to better elucidate their functional significance.
引言 颈椎的[此处原文缺失特定术语，暂用“某结构”指代]（一个法语术语，意为“凹陷”）是颈椎椎体下外侧方面定义不明确的关节部分，它与相邻尾侧椎体的钩突共同构成钩椎关节（Luschka关节）。由于此前尚无关于该[某结构]的研究，本解剖学研究旨在更好地阐明此结构、其发生率以及它与相邻椎间孔和钩突的关系。方法 我们观察了50个成人颈椎（100侧）是否存在该[某结构]。当识别出该[某结构]时，记录其形态学特征并拍照。测量包括该[某结构]的宽度和高度。还研究了它与相邻钩突的关系。记录相邻钩突的大小和形状与该[某结构]之间的任何相关性。结果 在除C1和C7之外的所有颈椎水平均发现了该[某结构]，在88%的侧别中清晰可见。该[某结构]或多或少与钩突的形状相互对应，在所有侧别中均能发现钩突。其形状大致为拱形、卵形或线性。这些结构总是位于椎体的前外侧位置，恰好在骨骺环之外。该[某结构]的平均高度为2.1毫米。钩突的长度与相邻该[某结构]的大小呈正相关（r = 0.8）。该[某结构]的高度与相邻椎间孔的直径呈负相关。平均宽度为8.3毫米。这些结构在C3和C4椎体水平往往最大，在C5和C6水平最小。在颈椎侧屈时以及在钩突较长的标本（如C6）中，该[某结构]与钩突的接触最多。在涉及颈椎椎体的颈椎退变病例中，该[某结构]也被发现更宽。钩椎关节退变最常出现在该[某结构]处，而非相邻的钩突处。结论 我们发现该[某结构]在大多数颈椎中存在。这些结构在C3和C4椎体水平往往最大，在C5和C6水平最小，并且当相邻钩突增大时它们更突出。该[某结构]应被视为颈椎下外侧方面的一个正常特征。未来有必要进行临床研究以更好地阐明它们的功能意义。
