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Vertebral Column (vertebral + column)
Selected AbstractsLarge Interarcuate Spaces in the Cervical Vertebral Column of the Tyrolean Mountain SheepANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 1 2003E. Turkof Summary Large interarcual spaces have been described between the arcus vertebrae C5/C6 and C6/C7 in the cervical vertebral column of Nubian goats. This aperture enables direct access to spinal cord and rootlets without the need to perform a hemilaminectomy. The present study was performed in order to determine whether these large interarcual spaces can also be found in the vertebral column of the Tyrolean mountain sheep, as this small ruminant, which is anatomically very similar to the Nubian goat, is frequently used for experimental purposes at the Surgical University Clinic in Austria. The carcasses of 10 sheep (six females, four males; range of age: 2.5,6 years, range of weight: 52,89 kg) were dissected and the vertebral column was exposed. All 10 sheep showed elliptic openings between the fourth cervical and the first thoracal vertebrae. Three sheep had additional openings between the first and the second thoracal vertebrae. All openings were covered solitarily by the ligamentum flavum and under this ligamentum lay the spinal cord without any further osseous or ligamentous protection. These findings are not mentioned in the common textbooks of veterinary anatomy and deserve attention, as they can be a step forward towards non-traumatic experimental surgery on the spinal cord. [source] VERTEBRAL OSTEOLOGY AND COMPLEXITY IN LAGENORHYNCHUS ACUTUS (DELPHINIDAE) WITH COMPARISON TO OTHER DELPHINOID GENERAMARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2005Emily A. Buchholtz Abstract The vertebral column of the Atlantic white-sided dolphin, Lagenorhynchus acutus, reflects the radical reorganization of the cetacean column for locomotion in water. Both posterior thoracic and anterior caudal vertebrae have been "lumbarized," and discontinuities occur within the caudal series at the synclinal point and fluke base. Morphology changes subtly as body size increases. Neural process height increases more rapidly, and centrum length more variably, than other vertebral parameters. As a result, large animals have disproportionately tall neural processes, short necks, long mid-body regions, and short flukes. Vertebral columns of large animals also show greater complexity (range, irregularity, and polarization) of centrum length than do those of smaller animals. Comparisons among dolphins reveal that complexity trends with respect to differentiation of parts run counter to the trend with respect to number of parts, a relationship predicted by Williston in 1914. [source] Craniorachischisis and Heterotaxia with Heart Disease in Twins: Link or Change Nature?CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE, Issue 5 2010Sebastiano Bianca MD ABSTRACT Craniorachischisis is a rare neural tube defect in which both acrania and a complete schisis of the vertebral column are present. Heterotaxy results from failure to establish normal left,right asymmetry during embryonic development and is characterized by a variable group of congenital anomalies that include complex cardiac malformations and situs inversus or situs ambiguous. We report a diamniotic twin pregnancy with two malformed fetuses affected one by craniorachischisis and the other by heterotaxya with paired right-sided viscera, asplenia, and complex congenital heart disease. The occurrence of severe congenital anomalies in both members of the twin pair implies a strong influence of genetic factors. At present, the genetic basis determining the different phenotypes observed in our twins is unknown. Our case with the simultaneous presence of both midline and laterality defects in twins supports the hypothesis that the midline plays a critical role in establishing left,right asymmetry in the body and that a mutation in a gene responsible for both heterotaxy and midline defects may be strongly supposed. [source] The bone histology of osteoderms in temnospondyl amphibians and in the chroniosuchian BystrowiellaACTA ZOOLOGICA, Issue 1 2010Florian Witzmann Abstract Witzmann, F. and Soler-Gijón, R. 2010. The bone histology of osteoderms in temnospondyl amphibians and in the chroniosuchian Bystrowiella. ,Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 91: 96,114 Bone histology of osteoderms in the armoured temnospondyl Peltobatrachus, plagiosaurids (Gerrothorax, Plagiosuchus) and dissorophids (Aspidosaurus, Cacops, Platyhystrix), as well as in the chroniosuchian Bystrowiella, is studied. The massive osteoderms of Peltobatrachus and Gerrothorax consist of homogeneous parallel-fibred bone, whereas in dissorophids, a lightly built, trabecular middle region is mantled by a thin cortex that is composed of a plywood-type structure. In Bystrowiella and Plagiosuchus, the osteoderms consist to a large degree of interwoven primary fibres and have cell lacunae that bear stumpy canaliculi. The differences in the histological structure of dissorophids and plagiosaurids suggest an iterative evolution of osteoderms. Furthermore, histology in Plagiosuchus indicates a metaplastic development of the osteoderms, whereas the osteoderms of Gerrothorax represent periosteal ossifications as in dissorophids. This suggests a convergent origin of osteoderms also within plagiosaurids. The extensive armour in Gerrothorax probably constituted a calcium reservoir, indicated by cyclical resorption events preserved in the external cortex and interpreted as a physiological response to periodic changes in salinity of the aquatic environment. In contrast, the unique osteoderm structure of dissorophids provides maximum stability and minimum bone mass, and is coherent with the interpretation that the osteoderms served to strengthen the vertebral column during terrestrial locomotion. [source] Schmorl's nodes in a post-medieval skeletal sample from Klostermarienberg, AustriaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 6 2009Article first published online: 11 NOV 200, H. Üstünda Abstract The prevalence and distribution pattern of Schmorl's nodes (SNs) were studied in a post-medieval skeletal sample (n,=,473) from the 16th,18th century cemetery of Klostermarienberg, Austria. The reasons for the prevalence and distribution pattern of SNs in this sample are discussed with regard to their aetiology. SNs were correlated with age and sex as well as with degenerative spinal joint disease such as vertebral osteophytosis (VO) and apophyseal osteoarthritis (OA). SNs were most commonly found in the lower thoracic region, in agreement with other studies. Males were more affected than females by SNs, especially in the lower thoracic region. SNs show a completely different distribution pattern to VO and OA. Additionally, there was no relationship found between SNs and ageing. Observed differences in the prevalence of SNs in the vertebral column and between the sexes suggest that mechanical factors may be responsible. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Congenital anomalies of the vertebral column: a case study on ancient and modern EgyptINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 3 2006Azza Mohamed Sarry El-Din Abstract The aim of this paper is to identify the frequency of congenital anomalies of the vertebral column in ancient Egyptians. The material for this study consisted of 272 skeletons excavated from Giza and belonging to the Old Kingdom (the time of the early pyramid builders). The vertebral columns of these skeletons were examined for the different types of congenital anomalies that affect the vertebrae. Nine cases (3.33%) were affected with spina bifida occulta, while six cases (2.22%) had transitional vertebrae at the lumbosacral joint. These frequencies are compared with other ancient populations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Prevalence rates of spondylolysis in British skeletal populationsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 3 2005L. Fibiger Abstract As an activity-related pathological lesion, spondylolysis and its prevalence rates are indicative of relative diachronic activity levels in different populations. In this paper we document the prevalence of spondylolytic defects in a series of time-successive populations with special reference to the recording methods employed, and compare the findings with modern clinical studies. We identify epidemiological trends in expression of the condition through 1500 years in a series of skeletonised human remains from England. This includes a 5th,6th-century settlement, a 15th-century mass grave, a 14th to 17th-century rural parish, a medieval Dominican friary, a medieval leper hospital and an 18th to 19th-century crypt collection. These skeletal populations sample human groups experiencing considerable social change from an agrarian, non-centralised early medieval period through the development of the medieval state to the earliest phases of industrialisation in England. A detailed study of all lumbar vertebrae in one of the assemblages highlights discrepancies between clinical prevalence rates for spondylolysis established through radiography, and those resulting from direct osteological analysis of the lumbar region of the vertebral column. Current prevalence rates cited in the osteological as well as the clinical literature are greatly dependent upon the recording methods employed, and the effects of several methods for osteological remains are considered in this treatment. For the populations reported on here, prevalence rates vary from considerably less than 1% to as much as 12%, depending on the method selected. A standardised recording method for spondylolytic lesions is suggested to facilitate accurate prevalence reporting and comparison of activity levels between different populations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The salmon vertebral body develops through mineralization of two preformed tissues that are encompassed by two layers of boneJOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 2 2005Kari Nordvik Abstract The teleost backbone consists of amphicoelous vertebrae and intervertebral ligaments, both of which include notochord-derived structures. On the basis of a sequential developmental study of the vertebral column of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) from the egg stage up to early fry stage (300,2500 day-degrees) we show that the vertebral body consists of four layers or compartments, two of which are formed through mineralization of preformed collagenous tissue (the notochordal sheath and the intervertebral ligament) and two of which are formed through ossification. The three inner layers have ordered lamellar collagen matrixes, which alternate perpendicularly from layer to layer, whereas the outer layer consists of cancellous bone with a woven matrix. The bone layers also differ in osteocyte content. In this study we describe the structural details of the layers, and their modes of formation. The results are compared with previous descriptions, and possible phylogenetic implications are discussed. [source] Development of the pelvis and posterior part of the vertebral column in the AnuraJOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 1 2005Hana Ro, ková Abstract The anuran pelvic girdle is unique among all amphibians in that its acetabular portion is located far posterior to the sacrum, lateral to the postsacral (= caudal) vertebral column, which is reduced to a single rod-like element called the urostyle. This situation in the adult is strikingly different not only from that in ancestral temnospondyls but also in other modern amphibians. Because there is no fossil that would document this evolutionary anatomical modification except for Triadobatrachus, the only data may be inferred from development in modern anurans. We chose seven anuran species (belonging to the genera Discoglossus, Bombina, Pelobates, Bufo, Rana and Xenopus), representing the principal locomotory types (saltation, swimming, crawling and burrowing). Development of the pelvic girdle was studied on cleared and stained whole mounts and partly on serial histological sections. The basic developmental pattern was similar in all species: the pelvis on both sides develops from two centres (puboischiadic and iliac, respectively). The ilium then extends vertically towards the sacral vertebra and later rotates posteriorly so that ultimately the acetabulum is lateral to the tail (= urostyle). Only minor deviations from this pattern were found, mainly associated with differences in water and terrestrial dwelling. [source] Double staining protocol for developing European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) larvaeJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 2 2010M. J. Darias Summary The alcian blue-alizarin red technique was successfully adjusted to stain developing European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) larvae. For an optimal staining protocol design both larval size and their morphological characteristics at each developmental stage were considered, since such parameters notably influence the staining of tissues. The incubation times of the different solutions were adjusted to allow the stain penetration for revealing the integrity of cartilaginous and bony tissues without significant tissue degradation. Three developmental windows were determined for an optimal staining procedure: (i) 4.5,6.4 mm, (ii) 6.7,8.7 mm, and (iii) 12.8,15.5 mm total length (TL). In order to validate the continuity of staining along the larval development, quantification of bone mineralization and osteocalcin gene expression were also monitored. Quantitative analysis revealed that ossification followed an exponential kinetic that was positively correlated with the osteocalcin gene expression pattern (Rs = 0.9762, P < 0.05). The mineralized tissue increased from 6.4 mm TL onwards, corresponding with the detection of the first ossified structures. The quantity of bony tissue increased gradually until 7.6 mm TL, since mineralization remained limited to the skull. From 8.3 to 15.5 mm TL, the mineralized bone was notable and nearly concerned the whole larval skeleton (skull, vertebral column and caudal complex). Since it was possible to detect the first cartilaginous and mineralized structures in specimens as small as 4.5 and 6.4 mm TL, respectively, this procedure is a useful tool to study the European sea bass skeletal ontogenesis, to precociously diagnose skeletal malformations in small larvae and eventually to better characterize the effect of different environmental and/or nutritional factors on the ossification status of specific skeletal components. [source] Morphological variation among populations of Aphanius fasciatus Nardo, 1827 (Teleostei, Cyprinodontidae) from the MediterraneanJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2007V. Ferrito The amount of osteological variation among 11 Italian killifish Aphanius fasciatus populations was examined by the univariate and multivariate analysis of 40 morphometric and meristic variables of the skull and vertebral column. Populations were sampled in three geographically distinct areas (the Adriatic, Sardinia and Sicily). The statistical analysis confirmed that several populations were well differentiated. In particular, discriminant analysis revealed a strong discriminating power of the morphometric variables. Morphometrics of the vertebrae, bony elements of the pharyngeal jaws, supraoccipital and parasphenoid were the most important in discriminating populations. The dendrogram obtained by UPGMA cluster analysis shows the separation of the south-eastern Sicilian populations, that of the Sardinian populations and that of the central-northern Sicilian plus Adriatic populations, as well as the isolation of the Sicilian population from Pantano Viruca and of the Sardinian populations from Pauli Figu from all the others. The significance of the observed differentiation pattern is discussed. [source] Skeletal morphogenesis of the vertebral column of the miniature hylid frog Acris crepitans, with comments on anomaliesJOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, Issue 1 2009L. Analía Pugener Abstract Although the vertebral columns of anurans have received much study in the last 150 years, few detailed descriptions exist of the skeletal morphogenesis of this anatomical unit. Herein, the ontogeny of the vertebral skeleton of the hylid frog Acris crepitans is described based on cleared and double-stained specimens, radiographs, and 3D reconstructions generated from synchrotron microCT scans. The adult axial formula is 1-7-1-1, and the vertebral centra are epichordal and procoelous. The neural arches are nonimbricate, and there is a medial articulation between the laminae of Presacrals I and II. Free ribs are absent. The sacral diapophyses are uniform in width or slightly expanded distally. The urostyle is slender, round in cross section, and about equal in length to the presacral region. Presacral vertebrae are the first to form, developing in a cephalic-to-caudal sequence. However, development and growth are decoupled and growth is fastest initially in the posterior presacrals and sacrum. In addition, there is a time lag between the formation of the presacral/sacral region and the postsacral region. More than 8.5% of the specimens examined have vertebral anomalies, and about 50% display small variants from the typical vertebral column morphology. However, these malformations do not seem to have been so severe as to have affected survival. J. Morphol., 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Mortality of Northern Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus Due to Trauma Caused by Collision During Growout CultureJOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 4 2000Shigeru Miyashita Collisions with the walls of tanks or nets caused mass mortality that occurs during growout. The period when collisions frequently occur and the types of injury caused by collision were examined in this study. Juveniles were reared in indoor tanks from 30 to 120 d after hatching, and in an open sea net cage from 42 to 150 d after hatching. Dead fish were collected and counted daily in both of the experiments. In the indoor experiment, the sampled fish were preserved in 10% formalin solution, and each of 10 specimens of about 30, 50, 70, 85, 100, 130, 160 and 225 mm in body length (BL) were examined using x-rays to detect injury of the bones. Juvenile and young adult bluefin tuna showed a reduction in numbers caused by collision with the tank or the net wall during the experiments. In the indoor tank, there were 1,200 fish on day 30 but only eight on day 120. The daily mortality increased from day 30 after hatching, when juveniles reached 50-mm BL and remained over 4%/d until day 60 when juveniles grew to 300-mm BL. The proportion of dead fish with injuries of bone, especially of the vertebral column and the parasphenoid, increased after fish reached 50-mm BL, and exceeded 60% in fish with BL 85 mm or greater. In the open sea net cage, there were 3,841 fish at the start of the experiment on day 42 and only 65 on day 150. In this experiment, the reduction was greatest from the start of the experiment until day 80, when fish grew to approximately 25 cm in total length. Significant bacterial, viral or parasitic diseases were not observed in these fish; the only findings were dislocations of the vertebral column and injuries to the upper and lower jaws. These results show that the loss of juvenile and young adult bluefin tuna was caused by collision with the tank or net wall that fatally damaged the bones of the vertebral columns and the parasphenoid. [source] Retrospective Analysis of Spinal Arachnoid Cysts in 14 DogsJOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 6 2002Helena Rylander Spinal cord dysfunction secondary to spinal arachnoid cysts (SACs) has been reported previously in dogs. This retrospective study reviews the clinical signs, radiographic findings, and outcome after surgical resection of SACs in 14 dogs. Plain vertebral column radiographs and myelography were done in all dogs. Computed tomography (CT) was done in 7 dogs and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in 3 dogs. Affected dogs were between 1 and 12 years of age, and 8 of 14 were Rottweilers. Abnormalities detected on neurological examination depended on the location of the SAC. Five dogs had bilobed or multiple SACs. SACs were located in the cervical vertebral column in 11 dogs and in the thoracic vertebral column in 4 dogs. All dogs had dorsally or dorsolaterally located SACs. Two dogs also had additional ventrally located SACs. Spinal cord compression secondary to intervertebral disc extrusion or protrusion was demonstrated at the site of the SACs in 2 dogs. Surgical resection of the SACs was completed in all dogs. Eleven dogs were available for follow-up. Five weeks postoperatively, 7 dogs improved in neurological function, with some residual ataxia and paresis in 6 of these dogs. Neurological function had deteriorated in 4 dogs. It was concluded from this study that Rottweilers have a higher incidence of SACs than other breeds of dog. Furthermore, bilobed or multiple SACs can occur commonly, and myelography effectively localized SACs in dogs. Surgical resection of SACs resulted in improvement in neurological function in the majority of treated dogs. [source] Necks-for-sex or competing browsers?JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, Issue 1 2010A critique of ideas on the evolution of giraffe Abstract Recent years have witnessed a resurgence in tests of the evolution and origin of the great height and long neck of the giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis. The two main hypotheses are (1) long necks evolved through competition with other browsers allowing giraffe to feed above them (,competing browsers' hypothesis); or (2) the necks evolved for direct use in intra-sexual combat to gain access to oestrous females (,necks-for-sex' hypothesis). Here, we review recent developments and their relative contribution in explaining giraffe evolution. Trends from Zimbabwean giraffes show positive allometry for male necks and isometry for female necks relative to body mass, while comparative analyses of the cervical versus the total vertebral column of the giraffe, okapi and fossil giraffe suggest selection specifically on neck length rather than on overall height. Both support the necks-for-sex idea. Neither study, however, allows us to refute one of the two ideas. We suggest new approaches for quantifying the relative importance of the two hypotheses. A direct analysis of selection pressure on neck length via survival and reproduction should clarify the mechanism maintaining the trait, while we predict that short robust ossicones should have arisen concurrently with incipient neck elongation if sexual selection was the main selective driver. The main challenge for the competing browser hypothesis is to explain why giraffe have remained about 2 m taller than their tallest competitors for over 1 Myr, whereas the sexual selection hypothesis cannot provide an adaptive explanation for the long neck of female giraffe. We conclude that probably both mechanisms have contributed to the evolution and maintenance of the long neck, and their relative importance can be clarified further. [source] Spinal angiography and epidural venography in juvenile muscular atrophy of the distal arm "Hirayama disease"MUSCLE AND NERVE, Issue 2 2009Bakri Elsheikh MBBS Abstract We studied two 16-year-old males with juvenile muscular atrophy of the distal arm, "Hirayama disease," resulting in asymmetric atrophy and weakness of the distal upper extremities. Pathogenic theories include a compressive myelopathy with or without ischemia, and occasional cases are accounted for by genetic mutations. To specifically address the ischemia hypothesis we performed spinal angiography and epidural venography. Neck flexion during spinal angiography showed a forward shift of a nonoccluded anterior spinal artery without impedance to blood flow. Epidural venography demonstrated engorgement of the posterior epidural venous plexus without obstruction to venous flow. The findings do not support large vessel obstruction as a contributory factor. The Hirayama hypothesis continues to best explain the disease pathogenesis: neck flexion causes tightening of the dura and intramedullary microcirculatory compromise with resultant nerve cell damage. The age-related factor can most likely be accounted for by a growth imbalance between the vertebral column and the cord/dural elements. Resolution of progression is associated with cessation of body growth, after which the symptoms plateau or modestly improve. Muscle Nerve 40: 206,212, 2009 [source] ICD Implantation in Infants and Small Children: The Extracardiac TechniquePACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 12 2006THOMAS KRIEBEL M.D. Background: There is no clear methodology for implantation of an internal cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in infants and small children. The aim of this study was to assess efficacy and safety of an extracardiac ICD implantation technique in pediatric patients. Patients and Methods: An extracardiac ICD system was implanted in eight patients (age: 0.3,8 years; body weight: 4,29 kg). Under fluoroscopic guidance a defibrillator lead was tunneled subcutaneously starting from the anterior axillar line along the course of the 6th rib until almost reaching the vertebral column. After a partial inferior sternotomy, bipolar steroid-eluting sensing and pacing leads were sutured to the atrial wall (n = 2) and to the anterior wall of the right ventricle (n = 8). The ICD device was implanted as "active can" in the upper abdomen. Sensing, pacing, and defibrillation thresholds (DFTs) as well as impedances were verified intraoperatively and 3 months later, respectively. Results: In seven of eight patients, intraoperative DFT between subcutaneous lead and device was <15 J. In the eighth patient ICD implantation was technically not feasible due to a DFT >20 J. During follow-up (mean 14.5 months) appropriate and effective ICD discharges were noted in two patients. DFT remained stable after 3 months in four of six patients retested. A revision was required in one patient due to lead migration and in another patient due to a lead break. Conclusions: In infants and small children, extracardiac ICD implantation was technically feasible. Experience and follow-up are still limited. The course of the DFT is unknown, facing further growth of the patients. [source] A well-preserved ,charadriiform-like' fossil bird from the Early Eocene Fur Formation of DenmarkPALAEONTOLOGY, Issue 3 2010SARA BERTELLI Abstract:, We describe a new, exceptionally well-preserved fossil bird recovered from marine deposits of the Early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark. Morsoravis sedilis gen. et sp. nov. is known by a single specimen that consists of a three-dimensional skull, vertebral column, ribs, pelvis, and left hindlimb and associated parts of the right hindlimb. Comparisons based on overall morphology and particularly characters of the skull, vertebrae and pelvis indicate that the new specimen is morphologically similar to charadriiform birds (the shorebirds and relatives). This similarity is also expressed by a phylogenetic analysis of higher neornithine (modern birds) taxa, which supports a close relationship between the new fossil and modern charadriiforms. The morphology of the hindlimbs, in particular, shows that the new fossil corresponds to a new taxon that is distinguishable from modern charadriiform clades. One interesting aspect of its morphology is the presence of hindlimb specializations that are most commonly found among perching birds , these suggest that ecologically the new Danish fossil bird may have differed from the wading habits typical of most charadriiforms. [source] Prezygapophyseal articular facet shape in the catarrhine thoracolumbar vertebral column,AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Gabrielle A. Russo Abstract Two contrasting patterns of lumbar vertebral morphology generally characterize anthropoids. "Long-backed" monkeys are distinguished from "short-backed" apes [Benton: The baboon in medical research, Vol. 2 (1967:201)] with respect to several vertebral features thought to afford greater spinal flexibility in the former and spinal rigidity in the latter. Yet, discussions of spinal mobility are lacking important functional insight that can be gained by analysis of the zygapophyses, the spine's synovial joints responsible for allowing and resisting intervertebral movements. Here, prezygapophyseal articular facet (PAF) shape in the thoracolumbar spine of Papio, Hylobates, Pongo, Gorilla, and Pan is evaluated in the context of the "long-backed" versus "short-backed" model. A three-dimensional geometric morphometric approach is used to examine how PAF shape changes along the thoracolumbar vertebral column of each taxon and how PAF shape varies across taxa at corresponding vertebral levels. The thoracolumbar transition in PAF shape differs between Papio and the hominoids, between Hylobates and the great apes, and to a lesser extent, among great apes. At the level of the first lumbar vertebra, the PAF shape of Papio is distinguished from that of hominoids. At the level of the second lumbar vertebra, there is variation to some extent among all taxa. These findings suggest that morphological and functional distinctions in primate vertebral anatomy may be more complex than suggested by a "long-backed" versus "short-backed" dichotomy. Am J Phys Anthropol 142:600,612, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Brief communication: Transportation and trauma: Dog-sledding and vertebral compression in Alaskan EskimosAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Scott S. Legge Abstract Vertebral compression, as evidenced by compression of the centrum, was observed within two Native Alaskan skeletal samples. Information was collected from 1,071 and 656 vertebrae from Golovin Bay and Nunivak Island, Alaska, respectively. In addition, patterns of compression related vertebral change in each collection were characterized by sex and location within the vertebral column. The overall frequencies of vertebral compression were 3.6% (n = 721) at Golovin Bay and 1.7% (n = 403) at Nunivak Island for all observable thoracic and lumbar vertebrae (T1,L5). There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of compression among adults between these two collections. When examining the thoracic and lumbar vertebral segments by sex, females at Golovin Bay (4.5%; n = 442) exhibited a significantly higher frequency of vertebral compression than females at Nunivak (1.0%; n = 203). However, this difference in occurrence of compression could be accounted for by the age distributions of the two samples. No difference was noted between the males of the two collections. Compression frequencies in both samples are discussed in relation to the modes of transportation historically utilized by each community. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Macroanatomical Investigation of the Aorticorenal Ganglion in 1-Day-Old Infant SheepANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 3 2009J. Kle, kowska-Nawrot Summary The aorticorenal gland belongs to the paired splanchnic ganglion, which is the main component of the coeliac plexus. It lies near the renal artery and suprarenal gland. The research was conducted on 13 1-day-old infant sheep , eight males and five females. Based on the conducted studies, it was concluded that the aorticorenal ganglion is characterized by the variable location in relation to the abdominal aorta, renal artery, caudal vena cava and suprarenal gland (holotopy), the thoracic and lumbar segment of the vertebral column (skeletotopy) (between L1 and L3) and also a different shape (elongated, round, triangular, oval) as well as variable length (the aorticorenal ganglion is longer on the left side of the body; 2.72 mm) and distance from the caudal end of the suprarenal gland (longer on the left side of the body; 8.34 mm). With regard to the sex of the animal, the ganglion is the longest on the left side in ewes (3.02 mm), while in rams it is the longest on the right side (2.68 mm). Regarding the division according to sex, the longest segment was observed on the right side in ewes (9.27 mm), and the shortest segment in rams was also on the right side (6.84 mm). [source] A Morphological Study of Skeletal Development in Turkey during the Pre-Hatching StageANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 1 2009S. H. Atalgin Summary Skeletal chondrofication, ossification and growth of turkey embryos were investigated and analysed to enable assessment of the developmental status and evaluation of the experimental effects on skeletal development, skeletal mutations and development of cultured embryos. Ten embryos were prepared every 24 h from 8 to 28 days of incubation. The fixed embryos were cleared and stained in toto with Alcian blue & Alizarin red for cartilage and ossified components, respectively. Observation of the skeleton was performed under a stereoscopic microscopy, with special attention to the timing of chondrofication and ossification of the bones. The first occurrence of the primary ossification centres was observed in the femur, tibiotarsus, and the dentary and supra-angular of the mandible on the 12th day, followed immediately by the other long bones. Skeletal features of the skull were determined to show the latest appearance of cartilage and ossification. Hence, all elements of the hyolingual apparatus remained cartilaginous until hatching took place except for the ceratobranchial. Even though the vertebral column chondrified earlier as compared with the ribs and sternum, they ossified later. While chondrofication was present in all the regions of the vertebral column at the same time, ossification progressed from the cervical through caudal regions. The growth rate of the femur was eminently higher than that of the humerus with increase in time, particularly after the 20th day of incubation. This seems to be obviously natural because the eggs used in the study are from the broiler turkey, which gains giant muscle mass at a very short period; precocity is probably at the expense of the bones of the leg rather than those of the wing. [source] Development of the Mesonephros in Camel (Camelus dromedarius)ANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 1 2007K. H. Aly Summary The study of the development of the mesonephros in the camel (Camelus dromedarius) was carried out on 16 embryos ranging from 0.9 to 8.6 cm crown vertebral rump length (CVRL). At 0.9 cm CVRL, the mesonephros is represented by a narrow strip along the roof of the thoracolumbar part of the vertebral column. At 1.4 cm CVRL, some of the mesonephric tubules are canalized but others are still solid. The mesonephric corpuscles are well developed at 1.9 cm CVRL and occupy almost the entire abdominal cavity in between the liver and the gut. Histologically, the glomeruli occupy the ventromedial aspect of the mesonephros while the mesonephric tubules become numerous, larger and more coiled. At 3 cm CVRL, the metanephros is invaginated in the caudal pole of the mesonephros, and the mesonephric tubules in some areas are differentiated into secretory and collecting tubules. At 3.5 cm CVRL the mesonephros is related dorsally to the postcardinal vein and ventrally to the subcardinal vein. At 4.7 cm CVRL continuous regression of the mesonephros from cranialwards to caudalwards is observed. At 5.3,5.5 cm CVRL, the cranial part of the mesonephros is divided into medial and lateral regions, and later the medial region completely disappears and is replaced by the primordium of the adrenal gland. At 8.6 cm CVRL, the caudal part of the mesonephros completely disappears. [source] Large Interarcuate Spaces in the Cervical Vertebral Column of the Tyrolean Mountain SheepANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 1 2003E. Turkof Summary Large interarcual spaces have been described between the arcus vertebrae C5/C6 and C6/C7 in the cervical vertebral column of Nubian goats. This aperture enables direct access to spinal cord and rootlets without the need to perform a hemilaminectomy. The present study was performed in order to determine whether these large interarcual spaces can also be found in the vertebral column of the Tyrolean mountain sheep, as this small ruminant, which is anatomically very similar to the Nubian goat, is frequently used for experimental purposes at the Surgical University Clinic in Austria. The carcasses of 10 sheep (six females, four males; range of age: 2.5,6 years, range of weight: 52,89 kg) were dissected and the vertebral column was exposed. All 10 sheep showed elliptic openings between the fourth cervical and the first thoracal vertebrae. Three sheep had additional openings between the first and the second thoracal vertebrae. All openings were covered solitarily by the ligamentum flavum and under this ligamentum lay the spinal cord without any further osseous or ligamentous protection. These findings are not mentioned in the common textbooks of veterinary anatomy and deserve attention, as they can be a step forward towards non-traumatic experimental surgery on the spinal cord. [source] Assignment of the locus for arachnomelia syndrome to bovine chromosome 23 in Simmental cattleANIMAL GENETICS, Issue 6 2009J. Buitkamp Summary Arachnomelia syndrome is a lethal inherited malformation mainly of the limbs, vertebral column and skull in cattle, which poses a severe impairment to farmers and breeders. Recently, a number of cases of arachnomelia syndrome have occurred in the Simmental breed and some sires with excellent breeding values had been shown to be carriers of the disease. We herein report the genetic mapping of the mutation underlying arachnomelia in cattle. The disease was mapped using a two-stage genome scan. A first round autosomal genome-wide screening using a limited number of cases identified three chromosomal regions with lod-scores > 1. The position of the arachnomelia syndrome locus was identified to be on BTA 23 by genotyping an additional, independent set of animals with markers that provided positive lod-scores in the course of the initial genome-wide screen. Using a denser set of regional microsatellites, the locus could be mapped to a region about 9 cM in length. The most significant linkage signal with arachnomelia syndrome was obtained with marker NRKM-17 (lod-score > 20) using a recessive model. Interestingly, different genes seem to be responsible for the disease in Brown Swiss and Simmental breeds, as arachnomelia syndrome was mapped to a different location in Brown Swiss. The results provide sufficient information for the development of a genetic test system and also allow the identification of positional candidate genes. [source] Supplementation of dietary minerals during the early seawater phase increase vertebral strength and reduce the prevalence of vertebral deformities in fast-growing under-yearling Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) smoltAQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 4 2009P.G. FJELLDAL Abstract An earlier study demonstrated that under-yearling (0+) Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) smolt had a lower vertebral mineral content and mechanical strength and higher prevalence of vertebral deformities than 1+ smolt during the early seawater (SW) phase. The present study aimed to examine if commercial extruded high-energy diets need to be supplemented additional minerals for proper bone mineralization and prevention of bone deformities in fast growing 0 + smolts. We studied vertebral morphology with radiology, and bone mineral content and mechanical strength in 60 g 0+ smolt fed diets with a normal (NM) or elevated (HM) bone mineral (P and Ca) contents from SW transfer (week 0) until 10 times weight increase at week 17. Thereafter, both groups were fed a commercial diet until a mean slaughter weight of 4100 g after 57 week. There were no differences in body weight and length between the dietary groups during the study, while the condition factor differed significantly at the final sampling (NM 1.40; HM 1.29). The most common bone deformity observed was compressions in the tail region of the vertebral column. Lower incidences of vertebral deformities (percent individuals with one or more deformed vertebrae) was observed in the HM group in week 17 (HM 20%; NM 47%) and week 57 (HM 37%; NM 73%), also reflected by higher vertebral length/dorso-ventral diameter ratio in weeks 17 (HM 0.99; MN 0.92) and 57 (HM 0.97; NM 0.88). The HM group had significantly higher vertebral mineral content (HM 550 g kg,1; NM 480 g kg,1) and mechanical strength (HM 9050 g mm,1; NM 4600 g mm,1) than the NM group after 8 week feeding. Plasma levels of Ca, P and D-vitamin metabolites recorded in week 8 reflected changes in P homeostasis, but could not explain the preventive effect of the HM diet on development of bone deformities. The results suggest that elevated dietary mineral content during the early SW phase may reduce the prevalence of vertebral deformities in fast growing 0 + salmon smolts. [source] Tyrosine and phenylalanine supplementation on Diplodus sargus larvae: effect on growth and qualityAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 10 2010Margarida Saavedra Abstract Phenylalanine is the precursor of tyrosine, which is involved in the synthesis of several molecules with key roles in the regulation of metabolism and growth, stress response and pigmentation. In this study, three experimental diets were tested: an amino acid (AA) balanced diet supplemented with phenylalanine, another supplemented with phenylalanine and tyrosine and a non-supplemented AA balanced diet. Rotifers were enriched with liposomes encapsulating free AA in order to obtain a balanced AA profile. The experimental diets resulted in similar larval survival, growth, enzyme activities of AA catabolism and nitrogen excretion in all treatments. High levels of skeletal deformities were registered and significant differences were found between the control and the phenylalanine treatment for the percentage of vertebral compressions in the trunk region of the vertebral column (30% in the control and 5% in the phenylalanine group). A significantly higher survival to a temperature stress test was found for larvae fed the diet supplemented with phenylalanine and tyrosine. The results suggest that supplementation of phenylalanine/tyrosine in fish diets may be useful in order to reduce skeletal deformities and mortalities caused by stress. The present study confirms that AA requirements may be sufficient for covering growth and survival but insufficient to cover other metabolic processes. [source] Development of deformities at the vertebral column in Diplodus sargus (L., 1758) early larval stagesAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 7 2010Margarida Saavedra Abstract One of the bottleneck problems of Diplodus sargus farming is a high incidence of skeletal deformities at the vertebral column. In this study, the pattern of vertebral deformities were determined in three different larval batches from 2 to 30 days after hatching (DAH). During this period, 60 larvae per spawn were observed at 2, 8, 13, 15, 18, 21, 23, 25, 27 and 30 DAH and the different types and frequency of vertebral column malformations were registered. Deformities started from 8 to 13 DAH, when the percentage of deformed larvae rose from approximately 5% to 40%. At 15 DAH, skeletal malformations had frequencies up to 80% of the observed larvae. Serious malformations such as kyphosis, scoliosis and lordosis were observed at 18 DAH but seldom in percentages higher than 15%. Vertebral fusions and compressions especially affected the preurostyle region. Abnormal shape vertebrae were more frequent between vertebrae 15 and 21. Other malformations observed were hypertrophic vertebrae, more common in the trunk and caudal regions, reaching percentages higher than 50% in the former. This study has useful information concerning skeletal malformations at the vertebral column of D. sargus larvae, as it identifies the main deformities observed and the ages of highest incidence. [source] Skeletal development and deformities in cultured larval and juvenile seven-band grouper, Epinephelus septemfasciatus (Thunberg)AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 2 2007Naoki Nagano Abstract The seven-band grouper, Epinephelus septemfasciatus (Thunberg), is currently recognized as a potential new species for aquaculture in Japan. This study describes normal and abnormal skeletal development of the jaw and vertebrae in cultured larvae and early juveniles of E. septemfasciatus. The ontogenetic stages at which skeletal deformities of jaw and vertebra developed were also described for this species. Osteological observations were made using a clearing and staining method for larvae and soft X-ray photographs for juveniles. A high incidence of skeletal deformities was observed in the jaws and vertebral column during the larval and juvenile stages. Most of the jaw deformities were explained by an abnormal maxilla curvature. Jaw deformities were visually evident from flexion stage after ossification of the deformed elements. Deformities in the vertebral column (mostly lordosis) were observed from the post-larval stage and became more evident as growth proceeded. The lordosis generally occurred on the positions of the 8,11th vertebra. These types of deformities are compared with those of other species, and possible causative factors of the skeletal deformities are discussed. [source] The role of pelvic traction in the management of primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresisBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2002E.E.H. Hussein Mohamed Objective To determine whether pelvic traction is beneficial in children with primary nocturnal enuresis. Patients and methods There can be disproportionate growth between the spinal column and neural tube in prepubertal children. The normal elongation of the vertebral column in children during sleep could stretch the filum terminale and nerve roots, representing a minor degree of tethering that affects neural function and contributes to nocturnal enuresis. Pelvic traction induces a similar or more intense stretch while a patient is fully awake (and able to control their bladder). Releasing the potential tethering in this way, combined with conditioning therapy, could be beneficial. Fifty patients (aged 7,17 years) with monosymptomatic primary nocturnal enuresis were evaluated in a prospective study. All had 10 sessions of pelvic traction applied over 4 weeks and were followed up for 3 months afterward; no other medications were given. Results All patients had fewer wet nights, with variable degrees of success (20,80%) during and 3 months after traction. Conclusion Pelvic traction is a safe, simple, economic and effective treatment for primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis. 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