Anatomy of the Human Cervical Spine and Spinal Cord at 20–22 Weeks of Intrauterine Development

Abstract

Early and timely diagnosis of the spinal column and spinal cord pathologies, their intrauterine and postnatal correction require detailed knowledge of the anatomy and topography of the cervical spine in the fetus. The complex interactions of the cervical spine with the corresponding parts of the spinal cord and adjacent structures require detailed study during the embryonic period of ontogenesis.The aim of the study was to investigate the morphometric and topographic anatomical fetal features of the cervical spine and adjacent structures at 20–22 weeks of the intrauterine development.Material and methods. This study was performed on the sectional material from human fetuses, 20–22 weeks of development (20 human fetuses of both sexes), obtained from the fetal collection of the Department of Human Anatomy, Orenburg State Medical University. A standard set of morphological methods were applied in the study – macromicroscopic preparation, Pirogov method of cuts in three mutually perpendicular planes, production of serial histotopograms with Van Gieson staining, photography, morphometry.Results. It was found that during the studied periods of prenatal ontogenesis, the length of the cervical spine averaged 17.5±1.5 mm. The transverse size of the vertebral body in fetuses of 20–22 weeks of development throughout the cervical spine is of greater importance than the anteroposterior. The transverse and anteroposterior dimensions of the vertebral foramen gradually decrease in the craniocaudal direction. It was also demonstrated that it is necessary to remove the dura mater in order to obtain reliable dimensional characteristics of the spinal cord.Conclusion. Thus, the data obtained on the anatomy and topography of the spinal column and the spinal cord at the 20th – 22nd weeks of the human ontogenesis can serve as the morphological basis of fetal surgery.