title: EVALUATION OF TERMINAL VERTEBRAL PLATE ON CERVICAL SPINE AT DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS AND ITS CORRELATION WITH INTERVERTEBRAL DISC THICKNESS.
abstract: To evaluate, by means of histomorphometry, terminal vertebral plate thickness, intervertebral disc thickness and its correlation on different age groups, seeking to identify its correlation.
  
  
  METHODS
  C4-C5 and C5-C6 cervical segments removed from human cadavers of both genders were assessed and divided into five groups of 10-year age intervals, from 21 years old. TVP and intervertebral disc thickness evaluation was made by means of histomorphometry of histological slides stained with hematoxylin and eosyn. Lower C4 TVP, upper C5 TVP, and upper C6 TVP de were compared between each other and to the interposed intervertebral disc thickness between relevant TVP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The thickness of terminal vertebral plates adjacent to the same ID did not show statistic differences. However, the comparison of upper and lower vertebral plates thickness on the same cervical vertebra (C5), showed statistical difference on all age groups studied. We found a statistical correlation coefficient above 80% between terminal vertebral plate and adjacent intervertebral disc, with a proportional thickness reduction of both structures on the different cervical levels studied, and also on the different age groups assessed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Terminal vertebral plate shows a morphologic correlation with the intervertebral disc next to it, and does not show correlation with the terminal vertebral plate on the same vertebra.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedics, Traumatology, and Rehabilitation Graduate Program, Department of Biomechanics, Medicine, and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Juliano Silveira
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Luiz Vieira
authors.affiliation: Orthopedics, Traumatology, and Rehabilitation Graduate Program, Department of Biomechanics, Medicine, and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Carlos Fernando Pereira
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: da Silva Herrero
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clínicas, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Maximiliano Aguiar
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Radiology Division, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Marcello Henrique
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nogueira Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Sérgio Britto
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Leandra Náira
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Zambelli Ramalho
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics, Medicine, and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo.
authors.forename: Helton Luiz
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Aparecido Defino
keywords: Cadaver; Intervertebral disc; Spine