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Anthropological analysis of the phenomenon of atlas occipitalisation exemplified by a skull from twardogóra (17th c.)—southern Poland
Author(s) -
Senator M.,
Gronkiewicz S.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
international journal of osteoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1099-1212
pISSN - 1047-482X
DOI - 10.1002/oa.1236
Subject(s) - foramen magnum , atlas (anatomy) , skull , anatomy , vertebral artery , occipital bone , spinal cord , foramen , medicine , vertebra , medulla oblongata , cervical vertebrae , central nervous system , psychiatry , endocrinology
Occipitalisation of the atlas is one of the most frequent osseous anomalies of the atlas. It is characterised by the adhesion of the first cervical vertebra with the basilar part of the occipital bone. The most probable cause of the occipitalisation is a congenital disorder. The atlanto‐occipital fusion may lead to narrowing of the space for medulla oblongata, spinal cord and vertebral artery. This in turn may lead to many physiological symptoms. The skull from Twardogóra, Southern Poland, showed partial atlanto‐occipital fusion and presented an asymmetry in structure and shape of apertures for the vessels and nerves around the foramen magnum. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.