title: Double foramen transversarium variation in ancient Byzantine cervical vertebrae: preliminary report of an anthropological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Foramina transversaria (FT) are located on the transverse processes of     cervical vertebrae. These foramina are known to exhibit variations with regard     to size, shape and may even be absent or duplicated. The aims of this study are     to investigate the shape, size and variations of FT in an ancient population and     to point out the importance of double FT in the human anatomy. MATERIAL and
  
  
  METHODS
  262 ancient skeletons, dated 6th c AD, were unearthed from the Iasos     Archaeological site between 1979 and 1987. Of these skeletons, 22 cervical     vertebrae belonging to 21 individual skeletons were examined for the variations     of FT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen (68.2%) of the skeletons were male and 6 were female.     All of the FT were round in shape. Among the 22 cervical vertebrae, double FT     was found in 5 (22.7%) vertebrae, while unilateral in 3 and bilateral in 2.     Asymmetrical FT was observed only in one (4.5%) vertebra. The mean diameter of     FT was 6.2 mm in the right side and 6.4 mm in the left.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Double FT     exists since the antiquity. The recognition of this variation provides safety     and effectiveness for the posterior approaches of the cervical spine.
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Nalan Damla
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Serhat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pusat
authors.forename: Cahit
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kural
authors.forename: Alpaslan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kirik
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Izci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000885:Anthropology, Physical / Q000379:methods*; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018612:Byzantium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000502:physiology; D018645:Greek World / Q000266:history; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009139:Musculoskeletal Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult