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IJAR.2019.366

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Type of Article:  Original Research

Volume 8; Issue 1.2 (February 2020)

Page No.: 7320-7323

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2019.366

MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF PONTICULI IN ADULT HUMAN ATLAS VERTEBRAE

Dakshayani. K.R *1, Rajapur. Parashuram 2.

*1 Professor and HOD, Department of Anatomy, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysuru, Karnataka, India.

2 Associate professor, Department of Anatomy, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysuru, Karnataka, India.

Corresponding Author: Dr. Dakshayani. K.R, Professor and HOD, Department of Anatomy, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysuru, Karnataka, India. E-Mail: dakshayanikr@gmail.com; drparashuram100@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The atlas, the first cervical vertebra, supports the head. It is unique in that it fails to incorporate a centrum. Because it supports the skull, it was named after Atlas who, according to Greek mythology, supported the earth on his shoulders. Frequently bony spurs arise from the anterior and posterior margins of the groove for the vertebral artery. These are sometimes referred to as Ponticles, and they occasionally convert the groove into a foramen. More often the foramen is incomplete superiorly. Arcuate foramen also known as ponticulus posticus (Latin for “little posterior bridge”).

Aims and Objectives: To study the proportion and various types of ponticuli.

Materials and methods: Present study was conducted on 100 adult human atlas vertebrae, collected from the department of Anatomy, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysuru, Karnataka, India.

Observations and Results: Out of 100 atlas vertebrae examined, 20 atlas vertebrae showed ponticuli of various types. 27 Ponticuli was observed in twenty (20) atlas vertebra as follows: a) Ponticulus posticus -15 b) Ponticulus lateralis -07 c) Ponticulus posterolateral -05 d) Complete Ponticulus -11 e) Incomplete Ponticulus -16 e) Bilateral Ponticulus -07 f) Unilateral Ponticulus -13. g) Right side -17 and Left side -10.

Conclusion: Proper identification of   this anomaly on preoperative lateral radiographs should alert the surgeon to avoid using the ponticulus as a starting point for a lateral mass screw in order to not injure the vertebral artery. It is also useful to surgeons who face regularly the patients complaining about the symptoms of   vertebrobasilar insufficiency like headache, vertigo, migraine.

Key words: Atlas Vertebra, Ponticulus, Vertebral Artery, Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency.

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Cite this article: Dakshayani. K.R, Rajapur. Parashuram. MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF PONTICULI IN ADULT HUMAN ATLAS VERTEBRAE. Int J Anat Res 2020;8(1.2):7320-7323. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2019.366