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Variability in the Spine: A Histomorphometric Analysis of Spinous Processes from the Posterior Vertebral Arch

Pinto, Deborrah C.

Abstract Details

2009, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Anthropology.

This study investigates the functional morphology of the human vertebral column by addressing the relationship of microstructural form to biomechanical function specifically in spinous processes. The hypothesis tested in this study is that variations in areal and perimeter dimensions along with relative remodeling rates are observed in the microstructure of spinous processes from the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions. The histomorphometric variables used in this study included total area, bone area, periosteal perimeter and endotrabecular perimeter. The spinous process study included all typical vertebrae (C3-L5) from eleven cadavers (45-92 years), nine males and two females.

No significant patterns of bone distribution were found in the cervical spine because the body and neural arch are widely spaced providing a stable base. The thoracic spine has more trabecular bone in the upper and lower regions, most likely because these regions contain the inflection points where the lordotic curves convert to kyphotic curves with load directions constantly changing. In the lumbar spine there is an increase in trabecular bone compared to cervical and thoracic spine with a decrease in periosteal perimeter because load transmission is redirected anteriorly in L4-L5. Unlike the relatively immobile thoracic spine, the lumbar region has a large range of movement with muscles and ligaments pulling in various directions which may also dictate the need for trabecular bone as well as reflecting the need for wide spatial distribution of bone to sustain large loads while maintaining the light weight of the skeleton. Remodeling rates between the various regions were not significantly different indicating sharing of loads by adjoining segments and maintenance of remodeling in the adaptive zone of the mechanostat. Analyses using hox codes demonstrated similar areal and perimeter patterns to the regions and could not provide any information regarding ontogenetic contributions.

The microstructural patterns can largely be explained by the biomechanics consistent with the gross morphology. The size and shape of vertebral segments only provide a partial picture of spine function, and the microstructural information can further explain the biomechanical complexities of the spine.

Sam Stout, PhD (Committee Chair)
Clark Larsen, PhD (Committee Member)
Paul Sciulli, PhD (Committee Member)
Alan Litsky, MD/ScD (Committee Member)
273 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Pinto, D. C. (2009). Variability in the Spine: A Histomorphometric Analysis of Spinous Processes from the Posterior Vertebral Arch [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1238092506

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Pinto, Deborrah. Variability in the Spine: A Histomorphometric Analysis of Spinous Processes from the Posterior Vertebral Arch. 2009. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1238092506.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Pinto, Deborrah. "Variability in the Spine: A Histomorphometric Analysis of Spinous Processes from the Posterior Vertebral Arch." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1238092506

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)