back to contentsCephalometric Study on the
Morphology of the First Cervical Vertebra to Craniofacial Structures.
(Part 1): Is There Any Relationship ?
Ronaldo G. Vergara, Tamaki Mohri,
Shuichi Morita and Kooji Hanada
Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Niigata
University (Chairman: Prof. Kooji Hanada)
Abstract :
The use of cervical vertebrae to evaluate the individual craniofacial
development has been considered by some investigators. The first cervical
vertebral (atlas) morphology that was reported to reflect the head
posture, could be used as an indicator of craniofacial growth and
development on Caucasian samples.
The aim of the investigation was to establish a norm of atlas
measurements, mean and standard deviation in Japanese school chidren ages'
7, l0, 12 and 15 and to clarify the associations of the atlas morphology
with craniofacial structure (CFS) at these ages.
One hundred ninety six lateral head films of 49 school children (30
males and 19 females) at age 7, 10, 12 and 15 were traced and measured at
5 variables for the atlas and 12 variables for CFS. The significance of
correlation of the atlas variables with that of CFS was statistically
analyzed. Facial diagram of subjects that was divided according to the
height of the dorsal arch into high and low group was compared and
analyzed.
Data revealed a statistically significant increase in atlas
morphological dimension as it undergoes incremental growth change and that
a characteristic craniofacial structural differences exist between sex and
age. It was observed that a pattern of statistically significant
correlation exists on both sexes between the height of the dorsal arch,
antero-posterior length and atlas ratio (index) with CFS variables. The
association was observed in the vertical position of the mandible among
males that was not found among females except on the maxillo-mandibular
relations and rotation of the mandible. The pattern of CFS and its
association with the atlas morphology were altered with sex and age.
It was established from the results in this study that the association
of the atlas morphology with CFS and its growth pattern among Japanese
samples, were more vertical mandibular position in males while, in female,
a trend of maxillo-mandibular rotation instead of horizontal mandibular
position that was reported among Caucasian samples. The association of the
first cervical vertebra with CFS and CFS growth pattern itself was
different according to race, sex and age. Thus, the factor of sex, race
and age should be carefully considered in the application of the atlas
morphology as one of the indicator of CFS growth.