Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dimensions of cervical vertebral bodies according to age and sex

Mesures des corps vertébraux cervicaux en fonction de l'âge et du sexe

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A biometric comparative roentgenological study of the cervical vertebral bodies was performed, according to age and sex, from lateral roentgenograms of 120 adult cervical regions. The sexual dimorphism already described by many authors was confirmed. The vertebral bodies of C2, C3, and C7 have the more variable structure according to age. The results of our measurements are in accordance with clinical findings and provide data on the structural changes of the cervical spine during ageing. In anthropological terms, the vertebral body of C2, in particular its antero-posterior diameter, is the best age indicator, irrespective of individual and exterior variables.

Résumé

Les auteurs ont réalisé une étude biométrique comparative des corps vertébraux cervicaux, en fonction du sexe et de l'âge, à partir de radiographies de la colonne cervicale de profil pratiquées chez 120 individus. On retrouve le dimorphisme sexuel net, déjà décrit par plusieurs auteurs. Les corps vertébraux de C2, C3 et C7 sont ceux dont la structure varie le plus avec l'âge. Les résultats de nos mesures sont en accord avec les constatations cliniques et précisent les données sur les changements structuraux de la colonne cervicale au cours du vieillissement. D'un point de vue plus strictement anthropologique, le corps vertébral de l'axis et plus précisément son diamètre sagittal, est le meilleur indicateur d'âge, indépendamment des facteurs extérieurs et individuels.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Anderson RJ (1883) Observations on the diameter of human vertebrae in different regions. J Anat Physiol 17: 341–344

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bailey RW, Sherk HH, Dunn EJ, et al (1983) The cervical spine. JB Lippincott, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  3. Brandner ME (1970) Normal values of the vertebral body and intervertebral disc index during growth. Am J Roentgenol 110: 618–627

    Google Scholar 

  4. Coussement A, Faure C, Coussement-Beylard N (1975) Repères et mesures en radiodiagnostic. Expansion Scientifique Française, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cyriax E (1920) On certain absolute and relative measurements of human vertebrae. J Anat 54: 305–308

    Google Scholar 

  6. Danforth CH (1930) Numerical variation and homologies in vertebrae. Am J Phys Anthrop 14: 463–481

    Google Scholar 

  7. Delmas A (1955) Les variations numériques et morphologiques rachidiennes. Intérêt théorique et pratique. Med Educ Phys Sport 29: 111–120

    Google Scholar 

  8. Delmas A (1956) Quelques aspects de l'anthropologie rachidienne. Revue Anthropologique, Nouv Série, 1

  9. Delpreux R (1951) Modifications des diamètres et de la morphologie du trou de conjugaison aux différents étages du rachis. Rev Rhum 18: 253–261

    Google Scholar 

  10. Duparc G (1942) Contribution à l'étude anthropologique de la colonne vertébrale. Thèse, Genève

  11. Ehni G (1984) Cervical arthrosis. Diseases of cervical motion segments. In: Chap 5, Biomechanics of cervical spine. Year Book Medical, Chicago, pp 78–109

    Google Scholar 

  12. Francis CC (1955) Dimensions of the cervical vertebrae. Anat Record 122: 603–609

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gooding CA, Neuhauser EBD (1965) Growth and development of the vertebral body in the presence and absence of normal stress. Am J Roentgenol 93: 388–394

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hadley LA (1944) Roentgenographic studies of the cervical spine. Am J Roentgenol 52: 173–195

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hirsch HC, Schajowicz F, Galante J (1967) Structural changes in the cervical spine. Acta Orthop Scand [Suppl 109]

  16. Katz PR, Reynolds HM, Foust DR, Baum JK (1976) Mid-sagittal dimensions of cervical vertebral bodies. Am J Phys Anthrop 43: 319–326

    Google Scholar 

  17. Knutsson F (1961) Growth and differentiation of post-natal vertebrae. Acta Radiologica 55: 401–408

    Google Scholar 

  18. Lawrance EW, Latiner HB (1967) Weights and variability of components of the human vertebral column. Anat Rec 159: 83–88

    Google Scholar 

  19. Le Double AF (1912) Traité des variations de la colonne vertébrale de l'homme. Vigot, Paris, p 544

    Google Scholar 

  20. Le Floch P, Horn YE, Petzger J, Hidden G (1980) Tomodensitométrie et anatomie du rachis cervical: coupes horizontales sériées de 6 mm. Bull Soc Anat Paris 56 : 1081–1088

    Google Scholar 

  21. Le Floch P, Horn YE (1982) Biométrie du rachis cervical par tomodensitométrie. Bull Assoc Anat 66: 95–106

    Google Scholar 

  22. Morton DE (1950) A comparative anatomico-roentgenological study of the cervical spine of twenty cadavers. Am J Roentgenol 63: 523–529

    Google Scholar 

  23. Peacock A (1951) Observations on the prenatal development of the intervertebral disc in man. J Anat 85: 260–274

    Google Scholar 

  24. Peacock A (1952) Observations on the post-natal structure of the intervertebral disc in man. J Anat 86: 162–179

    Google Scholar 

  25. Sakka M (1977) Ensembles anatomiques cervico-céphaliques, port de tête et évolution des Hominidés. Conséquences phylogénétiques sur l'Australopithécus. Mammalia 41: 85–109

    Google Scholar 

  26. Scoles PV, Linton AE, Latimer B, Levy ME, Digiovanni BF (1988) Vertebral body and posterior element morphology: the normal spine in middle life. Spine 13: 1082–1086

    Google Scholar 

  27. Senegas J (1988) Chirurgie des complications radiculo-médullaires de la cervicarthrose. IIIrd international updating symposium. Degenerative and neoplastic pathology of the spine. San Remo 3–5 Sept 1987. Corina, Turin, pp 81–108

    Google Scholar 

  28. Soularue GM (1900) Etude des proportions de la colonne vertébrale chez l'homme et chez la femme. Bull Soc Anthrop Paris, pp 132–147

  29. Taylor JR (1975) Growth of the human intervertebral disc and vertebral bodies. J Anat 120: 49–68

    Google Scholar 

  30. Todd WT, Pyle IS (1928) A quantitative study of the vertebral column by direct and roentgenographic methods. Am J Phys Anthropol 21: 321–337

    Google Scholar 

  31. Tondury G (1959) La colonne cervicale, son développement et ses modifications durant la vie. Acta Orthop Belg 25: 602–626

    Google Scholar 

  32. Veleanu C (1975) Contribution to the anatomy of the cervical spine. Acta Anat 92: 467–480

    Google Scholar 

  33. Wangermez J, Bonjean P (1974) Anthropologie radiologique du rachis cervical: étude de profil sur le vivant. Anthropologie 78: 673–692

    Google Scholar 

  34. Zunzunegui J (1970) Mensurations vertébrales chez 50 adultes normaux. La France Médicale 1: 19–25

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d'Anatomie, Université de Bordeaux II, 146, rue Léo-Saignat, F-33076, Bordeaux, France

    D Liguoro & J Guérin

  2. Laboratoire d'Anthropologie, Université de Bordeaux I, France

    B Vandermeersch

Authors
  1. D Liguoro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B Vandermeersch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J Guérin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Liguoro, D., Vandermeersch, B. & Guérin, J. Dimensions of cervical vertebral bodies according to age and sex. Surg Radiol Anat 16, 149–155 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01627588

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01627588

Key words

Search

Navigation