Morphometric assessment of adult human lumbar vertebrae

Authors : Balu Gangaram Londhe, Rajendra Somnath Garud

DOI : 10.18231/j.ijcap.2020.017

Volume : 7

Issue : 1

Year : 2020

Page No : 77-80

The lumbar area of human spine is the commonest site of low backache. Knowledge of lumbar
morphometry is crucial not only to understand the biomechanics of lumbar spine but also for abundant
interventions intended at its stabilization and correction of deformities.
Aims and Objective: Aims and objective was to prepare morphometric data on dimensions of lumbar
vertebral body which can be used in clinical practice. An observational study was implemented where 47
dry macerated adult human lumbar vertebral sets were directly examined and their morphometric analysis
in preference to vertebral body was done. Data was processed and analyzed by SPSS Ver.20. ‘ANOVA’
and ‘Z test’ were administered to evaluate statistical differences.
Results: From L1 to L5, there was a gradual increase in antero-posterior (AP) diameter of superior surface.
However, AP diameter of inferior surface increased up to L4 but it reduced at L5. Transverse measurements
also shows gradual increase above downwards from L1 to L5. There were fluctuations in heights of
vertebral bodies. There is gradual elevation of superior surface area (SA) from L1 to L5. However, inferior
surface area (IA) increases up to L4 and decreases at L5.
Discussion and Conclusion: The study showed highly significant differences for all vertebral dimensions
except ‘posterior height’ of lumbar vertebral bodies. The generated results need to be expanded in view of
larger sample size and also in known sets of male and female lumbar vertebrae in diverse population.

Keywords: Dimensions, Lumbar Vertebra, Morphometry, Vertebral Body.


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