Morphometric analysis of the roots and neural foramina of the lumbar vertebrae.
BACKGROUND
There have been few anatomic studies on the foramina and roots of the lumbar region, and those available in human specimens are usually based on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging methods.


METHODS
Using the recent breakthroughs in microscopic anatomic dissections, the roots and vertebral foramina of the lumbar region were examined in 15 cadavers. Morphometric analysis of the roots and vertebral foramina of 80 lumbar vertebral objects was conducted.


RESULTS
The transverse and sagittal diameters of the lumbar intervertebral foramina were measured at each vertebral level. The median diameter of the lumbar neural foramina was 8.8 +/- 1.7 mm for the transverse and 19.4 +/- 2.7 mm for the sagittal planes. The widest median diameter of roots was 3.9 mm in the L4 root, and the narrowest was 3.3 mm in the L1 root.


CONCLUSIONS
Quantitative measurements of the diameters of the neural foramina and roots of the lumbar region in anatomic dissection models may provide a deeper understanding about the pathologies of this region and influence the success of surgical interventions.
Torun
Fuat
F
Department of Neurosurgery, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Selcuk University, Meram, Konya, Turkey. fuatorun@hotmail.com
Dolgun
Habibullah
H
Tuna
Hakan
H
Attar
Ayhan
A
Uz
Aylin
A
Erdem
Atilla
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002102:Cadaver; D004210:Dissection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology*