Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2024, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (12): 1890-1894.doi: 10.12307/2024.032

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Micromorphological characteristics of the pedicle of the lower cervical vertebra

Li Kun1, 2, Zhang Shaojie1, 2, Shi Jun3 , Wang Jian1 , Liu Yanan4 , Duo Lan4 , Yang Yang4 , Hao Yunteng4 , Li Zhijun1, 2, Wang Xing1, 2   

  1. 1Department of Anatomy, 2Digital Medicine Center, 3Department of Physiology, 4Graduate School, School of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010110, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
  • Received:2022-10-24 Accepted:2023-03-16 Online:2024-04-28 Published:2023-08-22
  • Contact: Wang Xing, PhD, Associate professor, Department of Anatomy, and Digital Medicine Center, School of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010110, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China Li Zhijun, Professor, Doctoral supervisor, Department of Anatomy, and Digital Medicine Center, School of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010110, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
  • About author:Li Kun, Doctoral candidate, Department of Anatomy, and Digital Medicine Center, School of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010110, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China Zhang Shaojie, PhD, Department of Anatomy, and Digital Medicine Center, School of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010110, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
  • Supported by:
    Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, No. 2022QN03002 (to LK); Youth Fund Project of Inner Mongolia Medical University, No. YKD2020QNCX055 (to LK); Talent Cultivation Project of Inner Mongolia Medical University, No. YCPY2022019 (to LK); College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Project of Inner Mongolia Medical University, No. 202110132025, 202210132031, 202210132011 (to LK); National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81860383 (to LZJ); Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, No. 2020LH08021 (to LZJ); National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81860382 (to WX); Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, No. 2020MS03061 (to WX); Youth Science and Technology Talent Support Program of Higher Education Institutions in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, No. NJYT22009 (to WX); Science and Technology Plan Project of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, No. 2019GG158 (to WX); Key Research Project of Inner Mongolia Medical University, No. YKD2021ZD011 (to WX); Health Commission Medical and Health Technology Plan Project of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, No. 202201217 (to WX); Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, No. 2019MS08017 (to ZSJ)

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Abstract: BACKGROUND: The lower cervical vertebral pedicle is the main stress site of the posterior column of the spine, which is of great significance for the maintenance of the stability of the human center of gravity and the reduction of shock. At present, there are few reports on the characteristics of the internal bone trabeculae, and the characteristics of the joint site of the vertebral pedicle with the articular process and the vertebral body. It is urgent to understand the fine anatomical structure of the vertebral pedicle and the relationship and function of each part.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the microanatomical morphology of the vertebral pedicle by Micro-CT scanning of cervical vertebra specimens, and to measure and analyze the microstructure and morphometric parameters of the bone trabecula in the cervical pedicle under normal conditions to evaluate the safety performance of the cervical spine.
METHODS: Micro-CT scanning was performed on 31 sets of cervical vertebrae C3-C7. By checking and reconstructing the areas of interest in the bone trabecular within the vertebral pedicle, the morphological characteristics and distribution direction of the bone trabecular within the cervical pedicle were observed, and the bone microstructure parameters were detected, and the differences in the bone microstructure of the C3-C7 vertebral pedicle were analyzed and compared.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The Micro-CT images showed that the honeycomb bone trabeculae of the pedicle of the lower cervical spine presented a complex network of microstructures. The trabeculae near the cortical bone were lamellar and relatively compact, extending forward toward the vertebral body and backward toward the articular process lamina. Abatoid bone trabeculae extended into the medullary cavity and transformed into a network structure, and then into rod-shaped bone trabeculae. The rod-shaped bone trabeculae were sparsely distributed in the medullary cavity. (2) Statistical results of morphological parameters of bone trabeculae showed that bone volume fraction values in C4 and C5 were higher than that in C7 (P < 0.05). The bone surface/bone volume value in C7 was higher than that in C3, C4 and C6 (P < 0.05). The bone surface density of bone trabeculae in C7 was higher than that in C3, C4, C5 and C6 (P < 0.05). Trabecular thickness in C7 was higher than that in C3, C4 and C5 (P < 0.05). Bone surface/bone volume and bone surface density of the left pedicle bone trabecular were greater than those on the right side (P < 0.05). (3) The microstructural changes of C3-C7 were summarized, in which the load capacity and stress of the C7 pedicle were poor, and the risk of injury was high in this area.

Key words: spinal column, lower cervical vertebra, pedicle, Micro-CT, microscopic morphology, bone trabeculae

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