title: A morphometric analysis of the superior cervical ganglion and its surrounding structures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this cadaveric study was to detect the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) in a topographic manner according to vertebrae and to determine the relationship between the vertebrae, mandibular angle and longus colli muscle through morphometric analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was performed on 40 SCG of 20 human cadavers (16 males, 4 females). The level of the SCG was determined based on the vertebrae. Ganglion length, width and thickness were detected. Distance to the adjacent vertebra, the mandibular angle and medial side of the longus colli muscle were measured. The results were evaluated statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SCG existing in all cadavers was detected at the C2 vertebra level in 34 cadavers and at the C3 vertebra level in 6 cadavers. The average length, width and thickness of the SCG were 15.18 ± 1.12, 4.62 ± 0.25, and 1.83 ± 0.10 mm, respectively. No statistically significant difference was detected in terms of the distances between the ganglion and anterior tubercle of transverse processes of the vertebrae as well as the mandibular angle on either side. The distance between the SCG and the medial edge of the longus colli muscle was significantly greater on the left side in both men (p < 0.001) and women (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recognition of morphometric characteristics of the SCG and detection of its location according to adjacent formations may serve as a guide for nerve blockage studies and help surgeons to preserve the ganglion in both anterior and anterolateral cervical approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine, 42130, Konya, Turkey. z_topal@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zeliha
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fazliogullari
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cenk
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kilic
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine, 42130, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet Kagan
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Karabulut
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yazar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cadaver; Cervical vertebrae; Longus colli muscle; Morphometric analysis; Superior cervical ganglion