Variation in the human cervical neural canal.
BACKGROUND
The dimensions of the cervical spinal canal can impact the likelihood of an individual suffering longtime effects from a spinal neck injury as well as influence recovery time. Most studies have used radiographic studies to compare differences in the neural canal, but few have examined skeletal populations to determine variation in the neural canal dimensions without the presence of soft tissue.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze variation seen in the cervical neural canal (anterior-posterior and transverse diameters) with respect to sex and ancestry and to define cervical canal narrowing in the sample.


METHODS
Observational.


METHODS
Measurements of the anterior-posterior (sagittal) (CAP) and transverse (CTR) diameters were taken from 321 individual skeletons. Comparisons were made between males and females and individuals belonging to different ancestral (racial) groups.


RESULTS
CAP was narrowest at the C4 level for African-Americans and at C6 for Caucasians. CTR was narrowest at the C2/C3 level for all groups. Statistical analyses indicated that significant differences in cervical canal dimensions are due first to sexual dimorphism and then to ancestry.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant variation in cervical canal dimensions precludes usage of universal definitions to determine spinal stenosis in individuals; definitions should be according to sex and ancestry.
Tatarek
Nancy E
NE
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ohio University, 149 Bentley Annex, Athens, OH 45701, USA. tatarek@ohio.edu
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional / Q000379:methods*; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D049628:Body Size; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*