Morphometric variations of the lumbar vertebrae between Chinese and Indian adults.

A morphometric study of the lumbar vertebrae of 126 adult skeletons, 90 Chinese and 36 Indian, of both sexes without marginal osteophytes were performed. In each lumbar vertebra, the cephalad and caudad midsagittal diameters, the interpedicular diameter of the spinal canal as well as the midsagittal and transverse diameters and the height of the vertebral body were measured. The results showed that the midsagittal and transverse diameters, the heights of the lumbar vertebral bodies and the interpedicular diameters of the lumbar spinal canals increased progressively from L1 to L5, while the midsagittal diameters of the lumbar spinal canals decreased progressively from L1 to L5 in both Chinese and Indian adult skeletons. The lowest mean values of the cephalad and caudad midsagittal and the interpedicular diameters of the spinal canals in Chinese were found to be 5.04 +/- 0.15 mm at L5, 4.67 +/- 0.09 mm at L5 and 25.92 +/- 0.20 mm at L2, respectively, while in Indians they were found to be 4.54 +/- 0.18 mm at L5, 4.25 +/- 0.10 mm at L5 and 25.42 +/- 0.22 mm at L1, respectively. In addition, the mean diameters of the spinal canal and the vertebral body (except the height of the vertebral body) were significantly greater in the Chinese than in the Indian skeletons. The above findings indicate that the mean diameters of both the lumbar spinal canal and the vertebral body vary greatly between Chinese and Indian adults, i.e. there are no mean values of the vertebral dimensions that are valid for all populations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Characteristics and structural variants of human lumbar intervertebral disks]

By means of macro- and microscopical methods structure of 412 lumbar intervertebral discs (ID), obtained from 84 corpses of persons died at the age 16-90 years have been studied, as well as 30 macerated lumbar vertebra. During these periods the lumbar ID are formed by hyalin laminae and a connective tissue wall, surrounding the cavity. According to the tissue type, in the ID wall three main layers are differentiated. The external layer is determined as a fibrous ring, the middle one--as fibrous-cartilagenous and the internal one--as a chondromucoid ring. The three layers gradually and consequently turn one into another. According to manifestation degree of these layers, development of the internal layer and size of the cavity three main variants of the ID structure are nominated: intervertebral synarthrosis, intervertebral hemiarthrosis and intervertebral "diathrosis" (real articulations have not been revealed between the vertebral bodies). The occurrence rate of the ID structural variants revealed in the lumbar part of the spinal cord is demonstrated. Absence of chordal mucous in the cavity is specific for the ID during the age periods investigated. The role of the "nucleus" is performed by the internal layer of the ID wall, which possesses a system of processes and a forming peculiar pulpous complex, which ensures the ID adaptation to various changes in position of the vertebral locomotor segment. The pulpous complex is surrounded with a united fibrillar carcass of hyalin laminae and fibrous-cartilagenous ring; together with the carcass it forms an elastic layer between the vertebral bodies.     

Lumbar portion of the human spinal canal at different age periods

The investigation was performed in 253 lumbosacral parts of the spinal column in fetuses, children and adult men in order to study age dynamics of the vertebral canal both at the level of the vertebra and at the level of the intervertebral disks. For the first time reliable data were obtained on dimentions of sagittal and frontal diameters of the canal at the lumbar level in practically healthy persons of different age. "Vertical comparison" of mean values of these parameters gave information on the character of spatial reaction of the canal dimentions and its form at various levels and demonstrated age peculiarities of these relations. In persons at the age of 22-74 years in vertibral segments of the lumbar part of the spinal column certain degenerative-destructive processes were revealed; they could affect the size and form of the canal. The rate, level and degree of these processes were demonstrated to vary in different age periods.     

Functional aspects of strepsirrhine lumbar vertebral bodies and spinous processes

The relationship between form and function in the lumbar vertebral column has been well documented among platyrrhines and especially catarrhines, while functional studies of postcranial morphology among strepsirrhines have concentrated predominantly on the limbs. This morphometric study investigates biomechanically relevant attributes of the lumbar vertebral morphology of 20 species of extant strepsirrhines. With this extensive sample, our goal is to address the influence of positional behavior on lumbar vertebral form while also assessing the effects of body size and phylogenetic history. The results reveal distinctions in lumbar vertebral morphology among strepsirrhines in functional association with their habitual postures and primary locomotor behaviors. In general, strepsirrhines that emphasize pronograde posture and quadrupedal locomotion combined with leaping (from a pronograde position) have the relatively longest lumbar regions and lumbar vertebral bodies, features promoting sagittal spinal flexibility. Indrids and galagonids that rely primarily on vertical clinging and leaping with orthograde posture share a relatively short (i.e., stable and resistant to bending) lumbar region, although the length of individual lumbar vertebral bodies varies phylogenetically and possibly allometrically. The other two vertical clingers and leapers, Hapalemur and Lepilemur, more closely resemble the pronograde, quadrupedal taxa. The specialized, suspensory lorids have relatively short lumbar regions as well, but the lengths of their lumbar regions are influenced by body size, and Arctocebus has dramatically longer vertebral bodies than do the other lorids. Lumbar morphology among galagonids appears to reflect a strong phylogenetic signal superimposed on a functional one. In general, relative length of the spinous processes follows a positively allometric trend, although lorids (especially the larger-bodied forms) have relatively short spinous processes for their body size, in accordance with their positional repertoire. The results of the study broaden our understanding of postcranial adaptation in primates, while providing an extensive comparative database for interpreting vertebral morphology in fossil primates.     

Evaluation of "unique" aspects of human vertebral bodies and pedicles with a consideration of Australopithecus africanus

Recent functional studies of human vertebrae have revealed that loads borne by the axial skeleton during bipedal postures and locomotion pass through the pedicles and posterior elements as well as through the bodies and discs. Accordingly, particular morphological attributes of these vertebral elements have been linked exclusively with bipedalism. In order to test the validity of current form-function associations in human vertebral anatomy, this study considers the morphology of human thoracolumbar vertebral bodies and pedicles in the context of a wide comparative primate sample. The last lumbar vertebra of STS 14 (Australopithecus africanus) is also included in the analysis. Results indicate that certain features of human vertebrae previously thought to reflect bipedalism are characteristic of several nonhuman primates, including those whose posture is habitually pronograde. These features include the decrease in vertebral body surface area and the increase in cross-sectional area of the pedicle between the penultimate and last lumbar vertebra. In addition, although humans have relatively large and wide last lumbar pedicles, the enlargement and widening of the pedicle between the penultimate and last lumbar vertebra is not unique to humans. On the other hand, human vertebrae do exhibit several unique adaptations to bipedal posture and locomotion: (1) the vertebral body surface areas of the lower lumbar vertebrae and the cross-sectional areas of the last lumbar pedicles are large relative to body size, and (2) the last lumbar pedicles are wider relative to length and to body size than are those of nonhuman primates. The last lumbar vertebra of STS 14 does not exhibit any of these human-like vertebral features—its pedicles and body surface areas are relatively small, and its pedicles are not relatively wide, but relatively short.     

Functional proportions of primate lumbar vertebral bodies

The comparison of certain proportions of lumbar vertebral bodies and of the lumbar column as a whole between a range of primate and non-primate mammals suggests that the relatively high robusticity of the lumbar column in primates may be related to habitual trunkal erectness. A decrease in the total number of lumbar vertebrae and high robusticity of individual vertebrae may be associated with large body size and positional habits in which trunkal erectness is particularly important. In some groups of primates proportions may relate to particular back movements occurring during quadrupedal progression or to positional suspension. Allometric regressions suggest that resistance to bending may be as important a function of lumbar vertebral bodies as resistance to compression. The proportions of the immediately pre-sacral lumbar vertebral bodies help to produce the normal human lumbar lordosis, but other factors must also be involved in the formation of the lordosis.     

Comparison of Cervical Spine Anatomy in Calves,Pigs and Humans

Background Context

Animals are commonly used to model the human spine for in vitro and in vivo experiments. Many studies have investigated similarities and differences between animals and humans in the lumbar and thoracic vertebrae. However, a quantitative anatomic comparison of calf, pig, and human cervical spines has not been reported.

Purpose

To compare fundamental structural similarities and differences in vertebral bodies from the cervical spines of commonly used experimental animal models and humans.

Study Design

Anatomical morphometric analysis was performed on cervical vertebra specimens harvested from humans and two common large animals (i.e., calves and pigs).

Methods

Multiple morphometric parameters were directly measured from cervical spine specimens of twelve pigs, twelve calves and twelve human adult cadavers. The following anatomical parameters were measured: vertebral body width (VBW), vertebral body depth (VBD), vertebral body height (VBH), spinal canal width (SCW), spinal canal depth (SCD), pedicle width (PW), pedicle depth (PD), pedicle inclination (PI), dens width (DW), dens depth (DD), total vertebral width (TVW), and total vertebral depth (TVD).

Results

The atlantoaxial (C1–2) joint in pigs is similar to that in humans and could serve as a human substitute. The pig cervical spine is highly similar to the human cervical spine, except for two large transverse processes in the anterior regions ofC4–C6. The width and depth of the calf odontoid process were larger than those in humans. VBW and VBD of calf cervical vertebrae were larger than those in humans, but the spinal canal was smaller. Calf C7 was relatively similar to human C7, thus, it may be a good substitute.

Conclusion

Pig cervical vertebrae were more suitable human substitutions than calf cervical vertebrae, especially with respect to C1, C2, and C7. The biomechanical properties of nerve vascular anatomy and various segment functions in pig and calf cervical vertebrae must be considered when selecting an animal model for research on the spine.     

Immunohistochemical evidence for cholecystokinin-like peptides in neuronal cell bodies of the rat spinal cord

Summary Cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity has been demonstrated by radioimmunoassay and immunocytochemistry in the spinal cord of various mammals, in particular in nerve fibers of the superficial layers of the posterior column, but had not been detected in neuronal cell bodies. We report immunohistochemical evidence for the presence of a group of cholecystokinincontaining neuronal cell bodies in the lumbar spinal cord of the rat. This group of cells is only visualized after direct injection of colchicine into the spinal cord and is located near the central canal in the intermedio-medial nucleus of area X of Rexed.     

The accuracy of active shape modelling and end-plate measurements for characterising the shape of the lumbar spine in the sagittal plane

The 2D shape of the lumbar spine in the sagittal plane can be determined from lordosis angles measured between the corresponding end-plates of the vertebral bodies or by using an active shape model (ASM) of the vertebral body outline. The ASM was previously shown to be a more efficient and reliable method, but its accuracy has not been assessed. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of an ASM for characterising lumbar spine shape and compare this to conventional measurements. Images of 25 different lumbar spine shapes were generated and measured, using both methods, by three independent observers. The accuracy of the ASM, determined from lordosis angles predicted by the model, was found to be better than conventional measurements.     

Morphometric analysis of lumbar vertebrae in extinct Malagasy strepsirrhines

Previous research on subfossil lemurs has revealed much about the positional behavior of these extinct strepsirrhines, but a thorough quantitative analysis of their vertebral form and function has not been performed. In this study, 156 lumbar vertebrae of Pachylemur, Archaeolemur, Megaladapis, Mesopropithecus, Babakotia, and Palaeopropithecus (11 species in all) were compared to those of 26 species of extant strepsirrhines and haplorhines. Lumbar shape was compared among species, using a principal components analysis (PCA) in conjunction with selected vertebral indices. The first principal component revealed strong separation between Palaeopropithecus at one extreme, and Archaeolemur/Pachylemur at the other, with Babakotia, Mesopropithecus, and Megaladapis in an intermediate position. Palaeopropithecus has markedly shorter spinous processes and wider laminae than do the other subfossil taxa, consistent with sloth-like, inverted suspensory postures. The moderately reduced lumbar spinous processes of Babakotia, Mesopropithecus, and Megaladapis are convergent with those of lorisids and Pongo, reflecting antipronogrady, but a less specialized adaptation than that of Palaeopropithecus. Archaeolemur and Pachylemur share relatively elongated spinous processes, in conjunction with other features (e.g., transverse process orientation and relatively short vertebral bodies) indicative of pronograde, quadrupedal locomotion characterized by reduced agility. All subfossil taxa exhibit adaptations emphasizing lumbar spinal stability (e.g., relatively short vertebral bodies, and transverse processes that are not oriented ventrally); we believe this probably reflects convergent mechanical demands connected to large body size, irrespective of specific locomotor mode. Reconstructions of positional behavior in subfossil lemurs based on lumbar vertebrae are largely consistent with those based on other aspects of the postcrania.     

腰椎骨折患者伤椎置钉与不置钉临床疗效对比分析

目的:探讨腰椎骨折伤椎置钉和不置钉对疗效的影响,以期选择最佳治疗方法。方法:选取2011年6月-2015年6月80例腰椎骨折患者为研究对象,随机分为对照组39例,伤椎不置钉治疗,观察组41例,伤椎置钉治疗,观察治疗后临床效果和相关指标变化。结果:两组在切口长度、手术时间、出血量、住院时间上比较比较无统计学意义(P0.05);两组术后在后凸Cobb角、椎管侵占率上较术前明显下降,椎体高度恢复较术前明显升高,手术前后比较差异显著(P0.05),观察组在手术后6个月、术后12个月、拆除内固定时后凸Cobb角、椎管侵占率明显低于对照组,椎体高度恢复上明显高于对照组,两组比较差异均显著(P0.05),而手术后1周比较差异不显著(P0.05)。结论:腰椎骨折患者伤椎置钉临床疗效满意。     

Effect of pamidronate treatment on vertebral deformity in children with primary osteoporosis. A pilot study using radiographic morphometry

OBJECTIVE: Bisphosphonates are effectively used in treatment for primary osteoporosis in children. In the present study, we quantitatively evaluated the effect of pamidronate treatment on lumbar vertebrae in children with primary osteoporosis using radiographic morphometry. METHODS: Paired lateral radiographs of the lumbar spine were obtained before and after pamidronate treatment in 5 children with primary osteoporosis. To characterize vertebral deformities, specific morphometrical ratios were calculated for vertebral bodies L1-L4. RESULTS: Significant reshape of lumbar vertebrae was observed: the concavity index (middle-anterior ratio) decreased from 55 to 36% (p = 0.006), and the anterior-posterior ratio (used as a surrogate of wedge deformity) decreased from 25 to 11% (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pamidronate treatment significantly influences the restoration of vertebral fractures in children with primary osteoporosis. The present study demonstrates that radiographic morphometry is a suitable tool for quantitative assessment of the vertebral deformities in childhood.     

Spinal arthritis and physical stress at Bronze Age Harappa

This study examines joint changes in the vertebral skeleton in human remains excavated in 1987 and 1988 at Bronze Age Harappa, an urban center of the Indus Valley civilization. The sample consists of 23 complete skeletons from primary burial context, the partial remains of more than 69 other individuals, and hundreds of skeletal elements from secondary context, totalling 3,084 vertebral joint margins and articular surfaces. Marginal bone proliferation, pitting of articular surfaces, eburnation, and ankylosis were scored macroscopically for vertebral body margins and surfaces and posterior apophyseal facet joints. Marginal lipping is far more prevalent on the vertebral bodies than on the apophyseal facets and surface pitting is also more frequent on vertebral bodies although its expression is relatively low overall. Cervical vertebrae in this sample exhibit the same amount of marginal new bone and much more surface pitting of the vertebral bodies than do either thoracic or lumbar vertebrae; the cervical segment also exhibits the most severe expressions of both types of lesions. In addition, although the frequencies of cervical and lumbar posterior facet involvement are similar, the cervical facets exhibit much more severe lipping as well as the only cases of eburnation and ankylosis. Pitting of the posterior facets is most common in the lumbar segment, but the cervical examples are the only severe cases. It is proposed that the severe joint changes in the cervical spine result from trauma, perhaps accumulated microtrauma from activity stresses. There are no age or sex associated patterns in the frequency of arthritis although this result may be influenced by the small proportions of the total sample for which age and sex could be determined. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The arterial supply of the thoracic and lumbar spine in newborns

The major arteries supplying the vertebral column are definite. The branching arteries of these trunks are variable. The posterior intercostal arteries and the lumbar arteries have an ascending, descending or horizontal course. In accordance with the literature, we found large, arched anastomoses between the rami ascendentes and the rami descendentes arising from the rami canalis vertebralis anteriores on the dorsal plane of the vertebral bodies. There are also nearly horizontal junctions between the rr. ascendentes of both sides. We found junctions on the front of the thoracolumbar vertebral column at the end of the arteries. On the dorsal plane of the vertebral body 2 arteriae centrales posteriores originate from the rr. ascendentes. They run to the centre of the vertebral body. On the ventrolateral plane of the vertebral body 2 or 3 aa. centrales anteriores can be found. These 4 or 5 arteries join in the middle of the vertebral body. The blood supply of the thoracal and lumbar vertebral bodies does not differ essentially. Vessels come especially from lateral in the intervertebral disc. We suggest to name such a vessel ramus disci intervertebralis. The posterior longitudinal ligament is mainly supplied by the junction between the rr. ascendentes of both sides and the anterior longitudinal ligament by the aa. nutriciae in the thoracal and the lumbar area.     

Morphology and function of the lumbar spine of the Kebara 2 Neandertal

The morphology of the lumbar spine is crucial for upright posture and bipedal walking in hominids. The excellent preservation of the lumbar spine of Kebara 2 provides us a rare opportunity to observe a complete spine and explore its functionally relevant morphology. The lumbar spine of Kebara 2 is analyzed and compared with the lumbar spines of modern humans and late Pleistocene hominids. Although no size differences between the vertebral bodies and pedicles of Kebara 2 and modern humans are found, significant differences in the size and orientation of the transverse processes (L₁‐L₄), and the laminae (L₅, S₁) are demonstrated. The similarity in the size of the vertebral bodies and pedicles of Kebara 2 and modern humans suggests similarity in axial load transmission along the lumbar spine. The laterally projected (L₂‐L₄) and the cranially oriented (L₁, L₃) transverse processes of Kebara 2 show an advantage for lateral flexion of the lumbar spine compared with modern humans. The characteristic morphology of the lumbar spine of Kebara 2 might be related to the wide span of its pelvic bones. Am J Phys Anthropol 142:549–557, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

经皮椎板间内镜与椎板小开窗术治疗腰椎间盘突出症临床疗效比较

目的：分析和比较椎板间内镜与椎板小开窗术治疗腰椎间盘突出症的临床疗效和安全性指标。方法：使用回顾性分析的方法 对2012-2014 年共计126 例在我科行椎板间内镜手术或椎板小开窗手术的腰椎间盘突出患者进行分析和比较。通过纳入和排除 标准的筛选,经皮椎板间内镜组纳入48例,椎板小开窗组纳入78 例。结合详实的术后随访,对两组患者在花费,住院时间等一般 性指标,疼痛指标,功能指标,并发症等数据进行分析和比较。结果：两组患者在术后均取得明显的治疗疗效,在疼痛、功能等指标 中都有明显的改善。但两组之间并无明显统计学差异(P>0.05)。而椎板间内镜组在住院时间,出血量,切口长度及并发症等方面明 显的优于小开窗组,具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论：经皮椎板间内镜手术作为一种脊柱微创手术,治疗效果确切,安全性好,能体 现微创的优势,可作为椎间孔镜技术在治疗椎间盘突出症的有益补充,在临床中进一步的开展和推广。     

Changes in the intervertebral disks in disorders of segmental blood supply of the spine

In 50 mature Chinchilla rabbits a model of chronic insufficiency of blood supply in the lumbar vertebral bodies has been disturbed as a result of unilateral sectioning of the segmentary arteries and veins. By means of light and transmissive electron microscopy the dynamics of structural changes has been followed in tissue of the intervertebral discs for 3 months after the operative intervention. Under hypoxia in the ground substance of the pulposus++ nucleus even proteoglycans granular-filamentous network gradually develops and floccular material and transverse striated filamentous aggregates are accumulated. Notochord cells are subjected to certain degenerative changes and die. Simultaneously fibroblastic cells of the pulposus++ nucleus periphery become activated, they produce glycosaminoglycans and collagen. As a result the hydrated tissue of the pulposus++ nucleus is substituted for a newly formed fibrous cartilage. The process of fibroses in the intervertebral disc is completed in 3 months after blood circulation has been disturbed in the vertebral bodies.     

Does the correlation between schmorl's nodes and vertebral morphology extend into the lumbar spine?

Schmorl's nodes are depressions on vertebrae due to herniation of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc into the vertebral body. This study provides an extension of our previous study which analyzed the shape of the lower thoracic spine and found that vertebral morphology was associated with the presence of Schmorl's nodes. Ninety adult individuals from the late Medieval site of Fishergate House, York, and the Post‐Medieval site of Coach Lane, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, England, were analysed using 2D geometric morphometrics to identify possible relationships between vertebral morphology and Schmorl's nodes at the thoraco‐lumbar junction and in the lumbar spine. A significant correlation was found between vertebral shape and the presence of Schmorl's nodes in the twelfth thoracic vertebrae and the first to third lumbar vertebrae. The findings corroborate previous studies and suggest that vertebral shape may be an important factor in spinal health. It is hypothesized that the pedicle shape of affected vertebrae may not provide adequate structural support for the vertebral bodies, resulting in vertical disc herniation. Am J Phys Anthropol 157:526–534, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The elongation of the human cervical vertebral column

Cervical vertebral elongation has been studied using serial cephalometric radiographs of 32 children examined regularly from 0.25 to 17 years. Mean vertebral body heights increased rapidly to about 2.5 years and then decelerated except for a spurt at about the age of peak height velocity. There were only small sex differences in vertebral body elongation to 12 years. From then to 15 years, the vertebral body heights in the girls exceeded those in the boys; later this sex difference was reversed. There was no pubertal spurt in disc elongation. The correlation coefficients were negative between vertebral body heights and the heights of adjoining intervertebral discs, e.g., body C3 and disc C3–4, but those between body heights or between disc heights were positive. The heights of adjacent cervical vertebral bodies were correlated more highly than the heights of non-adjacent bodies. There was a similar pattern of differences between correlation coefficients for the heights of adjacent and non-adjacent intervertebral discs.