title: Development and variation of the lateral vertebral foramen of the atlas in dogs.
abstract: Postnatal development and variation of the bony cranial border of the lateral vertebral foramen (LVF) of the atlas was studied in 96 dogs. Developmental ossification was investigated in 8 known-aged Miniature Schnauzer pups, after each atlas was prepared either as an alizarin-red stained clearing or as a dried cleaned bone. Variation was investigated in 63 atlases from mature dogs and by study of radiographs from 25 mature dogs of various breeds. The soft tissue structures passing through the LVF and attaching to its cranial border were dissected in an additional 2 embalmed and 2 fresh cadavers. In 2-week-old pups, the LVF was represented by a notch in the cranial margin of the bony arch of the atlas, with a cartilage bar completing the foramen cranially. Between 6 and 16 weeks the bar forming the cranial bony border of the LVF ossified in its preexisting cartilage anlage. In mature dogs, the LVF was present in the craniolateral aspect of the arch of the atlas and was recognized on lateral radiographs. The vertebral artery and vein, and first cervical nerve passed through the LVF and the atlantooccipital joint capsule and dorsal membrane attached to the cranial border of the LVF. In one dog the cranial border of the LVF of the atlas was incompletely ossified bilaterally. This developmental variant was compared with variations in man and other mammals, and with proatlas neural arch derivatives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D004285:Dogs / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography