Welcome to International Journal of Anatomy and Research

Type of Article: Original Research

Year: 2016 | Volume 4 | Issue 3 | Page No. 2878-2881

Date of Publication: 30-09-2016

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2016.360

STUDY ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATIONS OF THE ADULT HUMAN ATLAS VERTEBRAE

B Sadananda Rao *¹, M Yesender ², S Saritha ², B H Shiny Vinila ³.

^*1 Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Kamineni Academy of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

² Professor, Department of Anatomy, Kamineni Academy of Medical sciences and Research Centre, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

³ Senior Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, Panineeya Mahavidyalaya Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

Address: Dr. M Yesender, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Kamineni Academy of Medical sciences and Research Center, L B Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
E-Mail: yesender.anat@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Background: The knowledge of the anatomical variations of atlas plays very important role in neurosurgery where the surgical manipulation of the cervical spine is needed to decompress the vertebral artery as the variations of altas leads to cause cervico-basilar insufficiency. 
Materials and methods: Study was carried out on 50 dry adult human atlas vertebrae of unknown sex which are collected from department of Anatomy. All the specimens were observed for presence of any morphological variations.
Results: Among the 50 atlases studied. The following morphological variations were observed. Incomplete foramen transversarium was observed in 2 (4%) cases. Retroarticular canals or ponticles were present in 10 (20%) of cases. Among that the complete posterior ponticles was seen in 2 (4%) atlases, one with bilateral complete retroarticular canal, and one with unilateral retroarticular canal. Incomplete posterior ponticles was seen in 8 (16%) atlases, and the incomplete lateral ponticle was seen in 1 (2%) atlas. Bilobed superior articular facet was observed in 7 (14%) of cases. Spur on the anterior arch was observed in 10 (20%) of cases. Abnormal groove around the superior articular facet on left side was observed in one atlas.
Conclusion: The knowledge of the absence of costal element or incomplete formation of foramen transversarium is important for radiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons who deal with diagnosis and treatment of head and neck region. Extreme rotation of cervical spine in an individual with retro-articular canal may lead to the compression of the third part of vertebral artery and may cause vertebro-basilar insufficiency. Hence the knowledge of the anatomical variations is very important for neurosurgeons dealing with surgical manipulation of the cervical spine to decompress the vertebral artery.
Key words: Atlas, Retroarticular canal, Foramen transversarium, Ponticles, Cervico basilar insufficiency.

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B Sadananda Rao, M Yesender, S Saritha, B H Shiny Vinila. STUDY ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATIONS OF THE ADULT HUMAN ATLAS VERTEBRAE. Int J Anat Res 2016;4(3):2878-2881. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2016.360