Morphometry of the Normal Cadaveric Cervical Spinal Cord

Kameyama, Tetsuya; Hashizume, Yoshio; Ando, Tetsuo; Takahashi, Akira

doi:10.1097/00007632-199409150-00013

Cited by 91 publications

(93 citation statements)

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“…Although the clinical importance of morphometric data on spinal cord segments has been emphasized, [1][2][3]8,15 standard data and analyses of correlations among quantitative measurements have not been established. The morphology of the spinal cord has a prognostic significance in compressive cervical myelopathy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The morphology of the spinal cord has a prognostic significance in compressive cervical myelopathy. 3,15 Large variations in cord size should be taken into consideration in morphometric analyses of the spinal cord. Based on such morphometric data, the existence of pathologic cord conditions such as compression or atrophy can be assessed in individuals by comparing with the normally expected transverse area of the affected segment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on such morphometric data, the existence of pathologic cord conditions such as compression or atrophy can be assessed in individuals by comparing with the normally expected transverse area of the affected segment. 3,15 One study 9 discussed the relationship between quantitative distance and spinal cord regeneration: improvement in motor function at two spinal levels require that the corticospinal and other descending axonal pathways regenerate over two or more spinal segments, or over a distance of 2-3 cm. 9 The normal human spinal cord has been studied morphometrically using CT 16 and MRI.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…9 The normal human spinal cord has been studied morphometrically using CT 16 and MRI. 17 Very large variations in spinal cord size between individuals may present a serious problem when interpreting morphometric analyses using absolute values, such as the area and diameter, 3 and some reports have indicated that such variations exist. The transverse and sagittal diameters of the largest specimen are 1.5-fold longer than those of the smallest, 3 and the size of the spinal cord is not necessarily correlated with body height, 3 body weight, 1,3 or length of the vertebral column.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1 The morphology of the spinal cord is significant in the clinical prognosis of compressive cervical myelopathy. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Recently, Fawcett 9 described the relationship between regeneration distance and spinal level improvement in motor function.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gross quantitative measurements of spinal cord segments in human

et al. 2004

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Study design: Anatomical measurement. Objective: To obtain quantitative anatomical data on each spinal cord segment in human, and determine the presence of correlations between the measures. Setting: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan, Korea. Methods: A total of 15 embalmed Korean adult human cadavers (13 males, two females; mean age 57.3 years) were used. The length of each cord segment was defined as the root attachment length plus the upper inter-root length. After performing a total vertebrectomy, a transverse cut was made at the approximate proximal and distal point of each segment from segment C3 to S5. Sagittal and transverse diameters at the proximal end of each segment, and cross-sectional area, height, and volume of the segment were measured. Results: The transverse diameter was largest at segment C5, and decreased progressively to segment T8. However, the sagittal diameter of each segment did not change distinctly with the segment. The cervical and lumbar enlargements were determined by the transverse diameters of the segments. Segment C5 had the largest cross-sectional area, at 75.0 mm 2 . Segment T6 was the longest, averaging 22.4 mm in length. The longest segment in the cervical spinal cord was segment C5, at 15.5 mm, and segment L1 in the lumbar spinal cord. The volume was largest at segment C5, with a value of 1173.9 mm 3 . Conclusions: We found characteristic quantitative differences in the values of the parameters measured in the thoracic spinal cord compared to those measured in the cervical and lumbar or lumbosacral spinal cords. These measurements of spinal cord segments appear to provide valuable and practical standard quantitative features and may provide basic data for understanding the morphometric characteristics relevant to pathophysiologic conditions of the spinal cord.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gross quantitative measurements of spinal cord segments in human

et al. 2004

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The Effects of Age on the Morphometry of the Cervical Spinal Cord and Spinal Column in Adult Rats: An MRI‐Based Study

Laing

Brenneman

Yung

et al. 2014

The Anatomical Record

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Rat models are commonly used to investigate the pathophysiological pathways and treatment outcomes after spinal cord injury (SCI). The high incidence of fall-induced SCI in older adults has created a need for aging models of SCI in rats to investigate potential age-related differences in SCI severity and outcomes. The aims of this study were to determine the influences of age and vertebral level on the geometries of the cervical spinal cord and spinal column in a rat model. Three young (3 months) and three aged (12 months) Fischer 344 rats were imaged in a high field (7 T) small-animal magnetic resonance imaging system. All spinal cord geometry variables (including depth, width, and axial cross-sectional area) and one spinal canal variable (depth) were significantly larger in the aged specimens by an average of 8.1%. There were main effects of vertebral level on all spinal cord variables and four spinal canal variables with values generally larger at C4 as compared to C6 (average increases ranged from 5.7% to 12.9% in spinal cord measures and 5.4% to 6.8% in spinal canal measures). High inter-rater reliability between two measurers was observed with a mean intraclass correlation of 0.921 and percent difference of 0.9% across all variables measured. This study clearly demonstrates that cervical spinal cord geometry changes between the ages of 3 and 12 months in Fischer 344 rats. This information can aid in the planning and interpretation of studies that use a rat model to investigate the influence of age on cervical SCI.

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Upper cervical cord area in early relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis: Cross‐sectional study of factors influencing cord size

Rashid

Davies

Chard

et al. 2006

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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Purpose: To determine whether the upper cervical cord area (UCCA) is influenced by disease effect in early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), using statistical modeling to account for potential covariates. Materials and Methods:A cohort of 39 patients were studied cross-sectionally within three years of first symptom onset (median disease duration ϭ 1.6 years) and compared with 26 healthy controls. The UCCA was measured from axial reconstructions of three-dimensional T 1 -weighted scans with automated detection of the edge of the cord. Statistical analysis adjusted for factors such as total intracranial volume (TICV) and gender. Clinical correlations, in particular those thought likely to be related to cord pathology, were also investigated. Results:No significant disease effect was noted on UCCA (P ϭ 0.685), although there was borderline evidence of a lower UCCA in patients with symptoms of bowel or bladder disturbance (P ϭ 0.043). A strong association was noted between UCCA and TICV (r ϭ 0.558; P Յ 0.001), and there was a trend for females to have a smaller UCCA (P ϭ 0.062). The latter finding appeared to reflect a gender-related difference in TICV (P Յ 0.001). Conclusion:Atrophy of the upper cervical cord is not readily apparent in most patients early in the course of relapsing-remitting MS. In evaluations of disease-related changes in the UCCA in cross-sectional studies, TICV and gender should be considered as potentially confounding covariates.

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Morphometry of the Normal Cadaveric Cervical Spinal Cord

Cited by 91 publications

References 0 publications

Gross quantitative measurements of spinal cord segments in human

Gross quantitative measurements of spinal cord segments in human

The Effects of Age on the Morphometry of the Cervical Spinal Cord and Spinal Column in Adult Rats: An MRI‐Based Study

Upper cervical cord area in early relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis: Cross‐sectional study of factors influencing cord size

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