Untersuchungen über die Wirbelsäule und den Brustkorb des Menschen

Fischel, Alfred

doi:10.1007/bf02274755

Cited by 41 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…But when very short, they fuse to the transverse process, leading to an ‘enlarged transverse processes’ or ‘transverse apophysemegaly’ (Roos, 1976; Redenbach & Nelems, 1998; Merks et al., 2005; Varela‐Lasheras et al., 2011; see also fig. 5 in Fischel, 1906). Thus, as argued above, all variations have to be considered homeotic transformations, which is further corroborated by the fact that even small cervical ribs that can still be detected on radiographs are significantly associated with childhood cancers (Merks et al., 2005) and the thoracic outlet syndrome (Roos, 1976).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

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Analysis of cervical ribs in a series of human fetuses

Bots

Wijnaendts

et al. 2011

Journal of Anatomy

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In humans, an increasing body of evidence has linked the frequency of cervical ribs to stillbirths, other malformations and early childhood cancers. However, the frequency of cervical ribs in a putatively healthy fetal population is not sufficiently known to assess the actual medical risks of these prenatal findings. We therefore analyzed the presence of skeletal anomalies in a series of 199 electively aborted fetuses, which were wholemount stained with alizarin red specific for skeletal tissues. Results show that approximately 40% of the fetuses had cervical ribs, even though external congenital abnormalities such as craniofacial and limb defects were absent. A literature overview indicates that the observed frequency of cervical ribs is comparable to results previously obtained for deceased fetuses with no or minor congenital anomalies, and higher than expected for healthy fetuses. This unexpected result can probably in part be explained by a higher detection rate of small cervical ribs when using alizarin red staining instead of radiographs. Additionally, studies in the literature suggest that the size of a cervical rib may indicate the severity of abnormalities, but this possibility requires further research. Anomalies of the axial skeleton are known to be caused by a disturbance of early development, which alters Hox gene expression, but in this study the origin of the stress could not be verified as maternal medical data were not available. The co-occurrence of rudimentary or absent 12th ribs in 23.6% of the cases with cervical ribs indicates that in approximately 8% of the fetuses a homeotic shift occurred over a larger part of the vertebral column. This suggests that the expression of multiple Hox genes may have been affected in these fetuses. Together, the high incidence of cervical ribs and also their co-occurrence with rudimentary or absent 12th ribs suggests that there may have been a disturbance of early development such that the studied fetuses are probably not informative about the general population. Future studies determining the frequency of cervical ribs in a more healthy fetal population are therefore needed to evaluate their potential as an indicator of medical risks.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Cervical ribs in humans also occur in various sizes such that homeotic transformations are often incomplete (Fischel, 1906; Roos, 1976; Merks et al., 2005; Varela‐Lasheras et al., 2011). Instead of fusing with the sternum such as true thoracic ribs, cervical ribs often fuse with the adjacent rib.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of cervical ribs in a series of human fetuses

Bots

Wijnaendts

et al. 2011

Journal of Anatomy

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“…Fishel (1906) and Leboucq (1898) found that vertebrae with a cervical rib usually display more shape characteristics of thoracic vertebrae than the mere presence of a rib. In addition, Fishel (1906) and Oostra et al (2005) conclude that in the majority of cases cervical ribs are not isolated events, but are accompanied by homeotic changes of several adjacent cervical and thoracic vertebrae. In agreement with their observation, we found that approximately one quarter of cervical ribs appear to be accompanied by a homeotic shift of all thoracic vertebrae.…”

Section: Homeotic Transformationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cervical ribs appear to be partial or complete homeotic transformations of the seventh cervical vertebrae into rib-bearing thoracic vertebrae, that is, a posteriorization of the identity. Fishel (1906) and Leboucq (1898) found that vertebrae with a cervical rib usually display more shape characteristics of thoracic vertebrae than the mere presence of a rib. In addition, Fishel (1906) and Oostra et al (2005) conclude that in the majority of cases cervical ribs are not isolated events, but are accompanied by homeotic changes of several adjacent cervical and thoracic vertebrae.…”

Section: Homeotic Transformationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The exceedingly low level of interspecific variation in the number of cervical vertebrae of mammals has puzzled biologists for more than 150 years (e.g., Cuvier 1835;Flower and Lydekker 1891). In birds, reptiles, and amphibians this number varies considerably, and in mammals the number of vertebrae in other vertebral regions is variable as well (Fishel 1906;Galis 1999;Narita and Kuratani 2005). Thus, there appears to be an evolutionary constraint on variations in the mammalian cervical region.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Extreme Selection in Humans Against Homeotic Transformations of Cervical Vertebrae

et al. 2006

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Why do all mammals, except for sloths and manatees, have exactly seven cervical vertebrae? In other vertebrates and other regions, the vertebral number varies considerably. We investigated whether natural selection constrains the number of cervical vertebrae in humans. To this end, we determined the incidence of cervical ribs and other homeotic vertebral changes in radiographs of deceased human fetuses and infants, and analyzed several existing datasets on the incidence in infants and adults. Our data show that homeotic transformations that change the number of cervical vertebrae are extremely common in humans, but are strongly selected against: almost all individuals die before reproduction. Selection is most probably indirect, caused by a strong coupling of such changes with major congenital abnormalities. Changes in the number of thoracic vertebrae appear to be subject to weaker selection, in good correspondence with the weaker evolutionary constraint on these numbers. Our analysis highlights the role of prenatal selection in the conservation of our common body plan.

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The number of vertebrae in the fetal Bantu sacrum

Heyns

Kerrich

1947

American J Phys Anthropol

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Extracted from a D.Se. thesis submitted by 0. 8. Heyns to the University of the Witwatersrand and entitled " A Critical Analysis of the Bantu Pelvis, with Special Rzference to the Female. ' ' 67 68 0. S. HEYNS AND J. E. KERRICH MATERIAL AND METHODSA 6-piece sacrum has been defined as showing sufficient development of the transverse processes and caudal elements of sacral vertebrae 5 and 6 to complete the fifth anterior sacral foramen. There can be no question of a first coccygeal vertebra being sacralized by virtue of its being merely united with the sacrum in such a manner as to obliterate the normally mobile sacrococcygeal joint.I n order to study the limits of the lateral mass of the fetal sacrum, fetuses were set aside for this purpose only, because the ischiopubic portions of the pelvic girdle had to be removed for the sake of access to the sacrum. Twenty fetuses were used for this sacral problem. Of the 20 fetuses 1 was 16-weeks gestation, 3 had a crown-heel length of 3540cm, 12 were 4045 cm, 2 were 45-50 cm, and 2 were 5&52 cm.The sacrum was removed with enough of the ilia to determine with accuracy the site of the alae of the first sacral vertebra and the sacro-iliac joint. After the first 8 dissections it was decided to count the lumbar vertebrae, and 12 fetuses were accordingly dealt with more fully. Cleaning the sacrum with scissors, knife, and forceps was done at the time of removal from the body. Special attention was paid to the cleaning of the anterior foramina, the fifth foramen was located, and the nature of the lateral wall determined. Carti-

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Untersuchungen über die Wirbelsäule und den Brustkorb des Menschen

Cited by 41 publications

References 8 publications

Analysis of cervical ribs in a series of human fetuses

Analysis of cervical ribs in a series of human fetuses

Extreme Selection in Humans Against Homeotic Transformations of Cervical Vertebrae

The number of vertebrae in the fetal Bantu sacrum

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