A morphometric study of the lumbar foramen
- 1 June 1989
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy
- Vol. 11 (2), 97-102
- https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02096463
Abstract
The authors undertook a morphometric study of the intervertebral foramina in anatomic specimens of spines unaffected by degenerative lesions. They studied the variations in shape and size of 38 intervertebral foramina during flexion-extension movements and following an isolated disc collapse. The cast technique takes into account the bony prominences, the bulge of the disc anteriorly and of the capsulo-ligamentous structures posteriorly. In flexion, all the diameters of the foramina are maximal. In full extension all the diameters decrease significantly: the pedicles come closer together, the disc bulges posteriorly and the ligamentum flavum is pushed forward by the superior articular process of the underlying vertebra. A disc collapse of 4 mm decreases all the diameters, and in this case lumbar extension results in a sufficient decrease of foraminal diameter to threaten the nerve root.Keywords
This publication has 19 references indexed in Scilit:
- La stabilité vertébrale selon la théorie des trois colonnesSurgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 1985
- Anatomy and radiological anatomy of the lumbar radicular canalsSurgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 1984
- Anatomy of the lumbar radicular canalSurgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 1983
- Anatomy and Significance of Fixation of the Lumbosacral Nerve Roots in SciaticaSpine, 1983
- Kinematics of Lumbar Intervertebral ForamenSpine, 1983
- Load-Bearing Characteristics of Lumbar Facets in Normal and Surgically Altered Spinal SegmentsSpine, 1983
- Operative observations and results of surgery after failure of chemonucleolysis.1983
- The lateral recess syndromeJournal of Neurosurgery, 1980
- Selective Lumbosacral Radiculography and BlockSpine, 1980
- Lumbar nerve root compression at the intervertebral foramina caused by arthritis of the posterior facetsJournal of Neurosurgery, 1973