Aims: The aims of the present study were to describe the morphology of the cervical column in adult patients with a skeletal deep and normal bite occlusion, the prevalence of these morphology within them and to analyse the associations between the morphology of the cervical column and craniofacial parameters. Materials and Methods: The sample of this study composed of two groups, deep bite and normal over bite. The normal or control group composed of 50 adult subjects (25 males and 25 females) aged 18-25 years. The deep bite group composed of 59 adult subjects (20 males and 39 females) aged 18-25 years. Lateral cephalometric radiograph were taken for both normal and deep bite groups. We used 12 variables 11 angular and 1 linear measurements. The morphology of the cervical column was evaluated by visual inspection of the first five cervical vertebrae as they are normally seen in on a standardized lateral cephalometric radiograph. Results: In the skeletal deep bite group, 53.4 per cent had fusion of the cervical column and 23.2 per cent posterior arch deficiency (partial cleft). The fusion always occurred between C2 and C3. In the normal over bite group, 12.9 per cent fusion of the cervical column and 5.35 per cent of posterior arch deficiency, the fusion always occurred between C2 and C3. The significant correlations were seen between fusion and the angle between palatal plane and mandibular plane, the angle formed between the long axis of upper central incisor and palatal plane and the distance between the incisal edges of upper and lower central incisors, also the significant correlation between posterior arch deficiency and the angle between palatal plane and mandibular plane, the angle between the mandibular plane and chin line, gonial angle and the angle formed between the long axis of upper central incisor and palatal plane. Conclusions: The deep bite group had more deviations of the cervical column than the normal group. Our results showed that the craniofacial parameters, occlusion and malformations of the jaws were affected by morphological deviations of the upper cervical vertebrae including fusion and posterior arch deficiency.

Aims : To evaluate the correlations between the skeletal measurements and soft tissue measurements in males and females. Materials and Methods: Eighty students (40 males and 40 females) were selected aged (12-14) years with class I normal occlusion from intermediate schools in Mosul City. A standardized lateral cephalometric radiograph was taken for each student, eighteen variables, 9 angular (6 skeletal and 3 soft tissue) and 9 linear (3 skeletal and 6 soft tissue) were used in this study. Results: In males, angle of facial convexity positively correlated with angle of skeletal convexity and negatively with the angle describes the relationship of the maxillary and mandibular bases in the sagittal planes.The length of mandibular corpus was positively correlated with upper lip thickness, lower lip thickness at labral inferius and upper lip height. Upper lip thickness at labral superius was positively correlated with angle defines the anteroposterior position of maxilla in relation to anterior cranial base and angle indicates the anteroposterior position of the mandible in relation to the anterior cranial base.Lower lip height was positively correlated with the mandibular plane angle .In females, angle of facial convexity was positively correlated with angle of skeletal convexity and negatively with the angle describes the relationship of the maxillary and mandibular bases in the sagittal planes. The angle measures the protrusion of upper lip relative to the inferior border of the nose was negatively correlated with angle of skeletal convexity and mandibular length and positively with angle describes the relationship of the maxillary and mandibular bases in the sagittal planes.Angle of skeletal convexity was positively correlated with upper lip thickness at point A and upper lip thickness at labral superius. The mandibular plane angle was positively correlated with lower lip height. The angle describes the relationship of the maxillary and mandibular bases in the sagittal planes was positively correlated with labiomental angle and negatively with upper lip thickness at labral superius. The mandibular length was negatively correlated with labiomental angle and positively with upper lip thickness at point A ,