Welcome to International Journal of Anatomy and Research

Type of Article: Original Research

Year: 2016 | Volume 4 | Issue 3 | Page No. 2513-2517

Date of Publication: 31-07-2016

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2016.248

STUDY OF HUMAN ATLAS VERTEBRAE FOR THE PRESENCE OF RETROARTICULAR GROOVE OR CANAL IN NORTH INDIANS

Seema, ¹, Poonam Verma ², Anupama Mahajan ³.

¹ Professor, Department of Anatomy, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar, Punjab, India.

² Professor, Department of Anatomy, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar, Punjab, India.

³ Professor and Head, Department of Anatomy Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar, Punjab, India.

Address: Dr Seema, Professor, Department of Anatomy, Sri  Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Vallah, Amritsar, Punjab, India.
E-Mail: drseema16@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Background Atlas is the first cervical vertebra articulating above with the occipital condyles of the skull and below with the axis vertebra. Anatomy of this first cervical vertebra show great morphological variations. Atlas bony out growths known as Ponticles which can be lateral or posterior are commonly found. These ponticles can compress the third part of vertebral artery leading to vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Atlas vertebra is approached in a number of surgical procedures like transpedicular screw fixation, transarticular screw fixation interlaminar clamp and for interspinous wiring.
Aim: To find out the incidence of retroarticular groove or canals in North Indian population in order to avoid postoperative complications arising due to these anatomical variations.
Material and Methods: The present study was done on fifty dry adult human atlas vertebrae of unknown sex taken from Department of Anatomy, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar. They were carefully studied for the  presence of retroarticular groove or canal.
Results: The retroarticular groove or canal were found in eight vertebrae (16%). Presence of these retroarticular canals predisposes to Barre –Lieou and Cervicogenic syndromes especially in neck movements.
Conclusion: These bony bridges embracing the vertebral artery are responsible for vertigo and vertebrobasilar insufficiency. The present study can be helpful to radiologists, anthropologists and neurosurgeons to avoid many postoperative complications.
Key words: Cervical, Axis, Occipital,  Vertebrobasilar, Transpedicular.

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Seema, Poonam Verma, Anupama Mahajan. STUDY OF HUMAN ATLAS VERTEBRAE FOR THE PRESENCE OF RETROARTICULAR GROOVE OR CANAL IN NORTH INDIANS. Int J Anat Res 2016;4(3):2518-2521. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2016.248