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Bony observations of some morphological variations and anomalies of the craniovertebral region
Author(s) -
Taitz Cecil
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
clinical anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1098-2353
pISSN - 0897-3806
DOI - 10.1002/1098-2353(2000)13:5<354::aid-ca5>3.0.co;2-6
Subject(s) - foramen magnum , anatomy , medicine , crania , occipital condyle , skull , condyle , cadaver , foramen , vertebra
Human skeletons (214) belonging to a South African black and white cadaver population were pooled and examined for malformations of the craniovertebral region. Four crania, presenting with various manifestations of an occipital vertebra, such as a paracondylar process, epicondylar process, hypocondylar arch, and a third condyle were identified as well as two crania showing various degrees of assimilation of the atlas to the basicranium. Of particular interest was the identification of a cloverleaf‐shaped foramen magnum in a cranium of an individual with achondroplasia as well as a cranium with marked asymmetry of both foramen magnum and occipital condyles. Due to the availability of both cranium and corresponding atlanto‐axial components, the clinical significance of certain aspects of craniovertebral anomalies were vividly demonstrated, such as a pseudarthrosis formed by the meeting of a paracondylar process with an epitransverse process and a dens “riding high” in the foramen magnum as a result of assimilation of the atlas. Clin. Anat. 13:354–360, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.