The neurocentral vertebral cartilage: Anatomy, physiology and physiopathology

Vital, Jean-Marc; Beguiristáin, J. L.; Algara, C.; Villas, Carlos; Lavignolle, B.; Grenier, N.; Sénégas, J

doi:10.1007/bf02098705

Cited by 59 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Three methods have been preferably used in the medical sciences for examinations of the neurocentral junctions: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI; Yamazaki et al, 1998;Rajwani et al, 2002Rajwani et al, , 2005; radiography (Matt et al, 1996); and Computed Tomography (CT; Vital et al, 1989). These methods are generally limited to identification of the presence or the absence of cartilaginous tissues in the neurocentral junctions, but they do not directly show the types of cells and tissues present in the neurocentral synchondroses.…”

Section: Histological Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Histology‐Based Morphology of the Neurocentral Synchondrosis in Alligator Mississippiensis (Archosauria, Crocodylia)

Ikejiri

2011

The Anatomical Record

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Morphology of the neurocentral synchondroses-thin cartilaginous layers between centra and neural arches-are documented in the extant crocodilian, Alligator mississippiensis (Archosauria, Crocodylia). Examination of dry skeletons demonstrates that neurocentral suture closure occurs in very late postnatal ontogeny (after reaching sexual maturity and/or body size ca. 40% from the upper range). Before sexual maturity (body length (BL) ! ca. 1.80 m), completely fused centra and neural arches are restricted to the caudal vertebral series. In contrast, the presacral vertebrae often remain unfused throughout postnatal ontogeny, retaining open sutures in very mature individuals (BL ! 2.80 m). These unfused centra and neural arches are structurally supported by the relatively large surface area of the neurocentral junctions, which results from primarily horizontal (mediolateral) increases with strong positive allometry. Cleared and stained specimens show that the cartilaginous neurocentral synchondrosis starts to form after approximately 40 embryonic days. Histological examination of the neurocentral junction in dorsal and anterior caudal vertebrae of six individuals (BL ¼ 0.28-3.12 m) shows : (1) neurocentral fusion is the result of endochondral ossification of the neurocentral synchondrosis, (2) the neurocentral synchondrosis exhibits bipolar organization of three types of cartilaginous cells, and (3) complex neurocentral sutures (i.e., curved, zigzagged, and/or interdigitated boundaries) come from clumping of bone cells of the neural arches and centra into the neurocentral synchondrosis. The last two morphological features can be advantageous for delaying neurocentral fusion, which seems to be unique in crocodilians and possibly their close relatives, including nonavian dinosaurs and other Mesozoic archosaurs. Anat Rec, 295:18-31, 2012. V V C 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Section: Histological Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Correct timing of neurocentral fusion is important for vertebral growth. In fact, abnormal timing of neurocentral fusion can produce vertebral malformations, such as asymmetrically sized left and right neural pedicles (Vital et al, 1989), which can contribute to severe axial growth disorders (e.g., scoliosis; Yamazaki et al, 1998).…”

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confidence: 99%

Histology‐Based Morphology of the Neurocentral Synchondrosis in Alligator Mississippiensis (Archosauria, Crocodylia)

Ikejiri

2011

The Anatomical Record

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“…In this study, longitudinal growth and resultant growth modulation are modeled on the vertebral body only. This simplification is justified because posterior parts of the vertebra have essentially completed their longitudinal growth before the first decade [37,41], while the vertebral body pursues its longitudinal growth during puberty [38], when progression of AIS is most at risk. Growth of intervertebral discs was not considered, based on an in-house study on 20 patients (mean age: 11.8±2.6 years old) over a growth period of 2.6±1.0 years, which showed a mean growth of less than 0.3 mm/year.…”

Section: Biomechanical Model Of Bone Growth Modulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomechanical simulations of the spine deformation process in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis from different pathogenesis hypotheses

Villemure

Aubin

Dansereau

et al. 2004

European Spine Journal

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IntroductionAdolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a complex threedimensional (3D) anomaly of the spine involving lateral deviations in the frontal plane, modifications of the sagittal profile, spinal torsion and transverse plane deformations [16,21,23]. There is still no generally accepted scientific theory for its etiology [7,16,21,23]. The pathogenesis of AIS is not clearly defined regarding either how Abstract It is generally recognized that progressive adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) evolves within a selfsustaining biomechanical process involving asymmetrical growth modulation of vertebrae due to altered spinal load distribution. A biomechanical finite element model of normal thoracic and lumbar spine integrating vertebral growth was used to simulate the progression of spinal deformities over 24 months. Five pathogenesis hypotheses of AIS were represented, using an initial geometrical eccentricity (gravity line imbalance of 3 mm or 2°rotation) at the thoracic apex to trigger the self-sustaining deformation process. For each simulation, regional (thoracic Cobb angle, kyphosis) and local scoliotic descriptors (axial rotation and wedging of the thoracic apical vertebra) were evaluated at each growth cycle. The simulated AIS pathogeneses resulted in the development of different scoliotic deformities. Imbalance of 3 mm in the frontal plane, combined or not with the sagittal plane, resulted in the closest representation of typical scoliotic deformities, with the thoracic Cobb angle progressing up to 39°(26°when a sagittal offset was added). The apical vertebral rotation increased by 7°t owards the convexity of the curve, while the apical wedging increased to 8.5°(7.3°with the sagittal eccentricity) and this deformity evolved towards the vertebral frontal plane. A sole eccentricity in the sagittal plane generated a non-significant frontal plane deformity. Simulations involving an initial rotational shift (2°) in the transverse plane globally produced relatively small and nontypical scoliotic deformations. Overall, the thoracic segment predominantly was sensitive to imbalances in the frontal plane, although unidirectional geometrical eccentricities in different planes produced three-dimensional deformities at the regional and vertebral levels, and their deformities did not cumulate when combined. These results support the hypothesis of a prime lesion involving the precarious balance in the frontal plane, which could concomitantly be associated with a hypokyphotic component. They also suggest that coupling mechanisms are involved in the deformation process.

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“…Our observations suggest the NCS screw epiphysiodesis can create and reverse the scoliosis in an immature pig model. NCS is histologically a bipolar growth plate with two directly opposed series of cell columns, which is responsible for growth both anterior toward the vertebral body and posterior toward the pedicle [16]. Under normal conditions, the symmetric growth of the right and left NCSs results in the synchronized growth of the pedicle and vertebra bilaterally without deformity [11,19].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The neurocentral synchondrosis (NCS) is a bipolar growth cartilage in the vertebra located bilaterally at the junction of the pedicle and the vertebral body [9,[15][16][17]19]. It is considered important for vertebral growth in the transverse plane [3,4,6,14,20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurocentral Synchondrosis Screws to Create and Correct Experimental Deformity: A Pilot Study

Zhao

Sucato

2011

Clinical Orthopaedics &Amp; Related Research

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Background Unilateral pedicle screw epiphysiodesis of the neurocentral synchondrosis (NCS) can produce asymmetric growth of the synchondrosis to create scoliosis in an immature animal model. Questions/purposes We asked whether a preexisting experimentally created scoliosis could be limited and corrected by modulating the growth of the faster-growing NCS by a similar method. Methods Nine 1-month-old pigs were assigned to each of three groups: (1) a sham group in which three animals received a sham operation but without a pedicle screw fixation; (2) an experimental group with double right pedicle screws placed across the NCS from T7 to T14 (scoliosis-untreated); and (3) an experimental group treated in the same way except a second set of double pedicle screws was placed in the left pedicles 6 weeks after the screws were placed on the right (scoliosis-treated). All animals were euthanized at 17 weeks, and radiographs and axial CT images of the spine were obtained. Results A scoliotic curve was not seen in any of the animals in the sham group, in three of three in the scoliosisuntreated group with an average of 34°, and in three of three in the scoliosis-treated group with an average of 20°. In comparison to the scoliosis-untreated group, the second set of pedicle screws produced a 41% correction of the scoliosis. Conclusions We found the pedicle screw inhibited the overgrowth of the NCS to prevent further curve progression and obtained some correction of the deformity. The NCS screw epiphysiodesis can create and reverse scoliosis in an immature pig model.

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The neurocentral vertebral cartilage: Anatomy, physiology and physiopathology

Cited by 59 publications

References 6 publications

Histology‐Based Morphology of the Neurocentral Synchondrosis in Alligator Mississippiensis (Archosauria, Crocodylia)

Histology‐Based Morphology of the Neurocentral Synchondrosis in Alligator Mississippiensis (Archosauria, Crocodylia)

Biomechanical simulations of the spine deformation process in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis from different pathogenesis hypotheses

Neurocentral Synchondrosis Screws to Create and Correct Experimental Deformity: A Pilot Study

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