The morphometric study of the body of dry human subaxial cervical vertebrae

Abstract

Cervical vertebral column is influenced by mechanical, environmental, genetic, metabolic and hormonal factors and has to react to the forces of everyday lifelike compression, traction, torsion and shearing. The key position and function of vertebral column has always interested workers in the research field. Many clinical problems affect the different components of the vertebral column and especially cervical region. The cervical region of vertebral column being the most common site of expression of stress in the form of cervical pain, formation of osteophytes, osteoporosis, prolapsed intervertebral disc and spondilitis etc. In view of the surgical procedures carried on cervical vertebral column and certain percentages of failures in some of them, many workers have tried to standardize the measurements of the different parts of cervical vertebrae. The morphometric database of the cervical vertebrae can be used for developing implantable devices and spinal instrumentation. Keywords: Cervical vertebrae, Cervical spine, Morphometry, Sub axial.