Magnetic resonance imaging investigation of the atlanto‐axial interspace

Scali, Frank; Pontell, Matthew E.; Welk, Aaron B.; Malmstrom, Theodore K.; Marshall, Ewarld; Kettner, Norman W.

doi:10.1002/ca.22094

Cited by 33 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…In the past 20 years, the findings confirm that the RCPmi is connected to the cervical spinal dura mater via the MDB through the posterior antlanto-occipital interspace (Hack et al;Scali et al, 2013;Pontell et al;Su et al;Zheng et al). It is hypothesized to perform some physiological functions, such as protecting the spinal cord from dural enfolding (Hack et al;Pontell et al;Chang et al;Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2008;McPartland et al), placing tension to the dura under (Rutten et al, 1997;Chang et al;Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2008;McPartland et al), maintaining the integrity of the subarachnoid space (Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2008;McPartland et al), and working as a pump via the MDBs to provide power for CSF circulation (Su et al; Zheng et al; Yuan et al).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

“…The suboccipital region is a complex anatomical structure with the rectus captis posterior major (RCPma), the rectus capitis posterior minor (RCPmi), and the obliquus capitis inferior (OCI) as part of an important anatomical structure in this region for connecting with the dura mater via the myodural bridge (MDB) (Hack et al, 1995;Pontell et al, 2013;Scali et al, 2013;Su et al, 2013;Zheng et al, 2014). In the past 20 years, it was proposed that through the MDBs the RCPmi might perform some physiological functions, like protecting the spinal cord from dural enfolding (Chang et al, 1992;Hack et al;McPartland et al, 1997;Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2008;Pontell et al), placing tension to the dura under (Chang et al;McPartland et al;Rutten et al, 1997;Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2008;), maintaining the integrity of the subarachnoid space (McPartland et al;Fernández-de-Las-Peñas et al, 2008), and working as a pump via the MDBs to provide power for CSF circulation (Su et al;Zheng et al;Yuan et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Anatomical Parameters of the Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor Muscle Based on a New Magnetic Resonance Scan Method

Yuan

et al. 2017

Int. J. Morphol.

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Anatomical parameters of the rectus capitis posterior minor based on a new MRI scan method. Int. J. Morphol., 35(3):1010Morphol., 35(3): -1015Morphol., 35(3): , 2017. SUMMARY:The past findings confirm that the Rectus Capitis Posterior minor (RCPmi) is connected to the cervical spinal dura mater via the Myodural Bridge (MDB) through the posterior antlanto-occipital interspace. It is hypothesized to perform some functions. Furthermore, some clinical studies found that the pathology of RCPmi might be related to chronic headaches. But few studies were related to the morphological parameters of the RCPmi. It would be conducive to performing clinical researches on the RCPmi and MDB. To explore the optimal section for measuring the RCPmi by MRI and provide imaging anatomy parameters of the RCPmi for clinical research. The RCPmi was measured in the dissection of 10 formalin-fixed cadaver specimens. The morphological parameters of the RCPmi were obtained. Based on these parameters, T2-weighted images of the RCPmi were collected from 109 healthy adults by using the MRIs with different oblique sagittal scanning angles. The parameters of length and area of the RCPmi on the scanning sections were measured using MRI workstation and Mimics software. The length of RCPmi reached a maximum at 30 degrees scanning leaned from the posterior median line through the dens of the axis in oblique sagittal section. At this scanning section, the length of RCPmi was 21.2 ± 2.6 mm in males and 19.3 ± 2.4 mm in females and the area of RCPmi was 91.9 ± 27.2 mm 2 in males and 73.3 ± 22 mm 2 in females. These parameters of RCPmi were present with significant gender differences (P < 0.05) but was not age related. Thirty degrees leaned from the median line was suggested to be the optimum scanning angle to display the RCPmi in oblique sagittal section. The reference values of length and area of the RCPmi were established for studies of hypertrophy or amyotrophy of the RCPmi.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anatomical Parameters of the Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor Muscle Based on a New Magnetic Resonance Scan Method

Yuan

et al. 2017

Int. J. Morphol.

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“…On integrating the findings of these literatures with our results, it seems reasonable to suggest that the Suboccipital Myodural Bridge through the atlantoaxial interspace is part of the VDL and that the related suboccipital muscles may directly exert a force on the cervical dura mater via the VDL. Moreover, Scali et al [8] reported the presence of a posterior dural bulge at C1–C2 in a significant sample size of the MR image population, for which the physiological contraction of the suboccipital muscles and the movements of the head and neck may be a reasonable explanation. These possible correlations require further investigation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research has revealed multiple soft-tissue connections extending from the suboccipital structures to the cervical dura mater through the posterior intervertebral spaces [1]–[5]. Thus, these connections can be regarded as fibrous fascial tissue bridges providing a continuity of the suboccipital muscles, integrating motion of the atlantooccipital and cervical intervertebral joints with that of the cervical dura mater [2], [5]–[8]. All of these reports clearly show that the suboccipital region is one of the most complex anatomical regions in the human body.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Definition of the To Be Named Ligament and Vertebrodural Ligament and Their Possible Effects on the Circulation of CSF

Zheng

Yuan

et al. 2014

PLoS ONE

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Few studies have been conducted specifically on the dense connective tissue located in the posterior medial part of the cervical epidural space. This study was undertaken to examine the presence of this connection between the cervical dura mater and the posterior wall of spinal canal at the level of C1–C2. 30 head-neck specimens of Chinese adults were used. Gross dissection was performed on the suboccipital regions of the 20 specimens. Having been treated with the P45 plastination method, 10 specimens were sliced (9 sagittal and 1 horizontal sections). As a result, a dense fibrous band was identified in the nuchal ligament of 29 specimens (except for one horizontal section case). This fascial structure arose from the tissue of the posterior border of the nuchal ligament and then projected anteriorly and superiorly to enter the atlantoaxial interspace. It was termed as to be named ligament (TBNL). In all 30 specimens the existence of a fibrous connection was found between the posterior aspect of the cervical dura mater and the posterior wall of the spinal canal at the level of the atlas to the axis. This fibrous connection was identified as vertebrodural ligament (VDL). The VDL was mainly subdivided into three parts, and five variations of VDL were identified. These two structures, TBNL and VDL, firmly link the posterior aspect of cervical dura mater to the rear of the atlas-axis and the nuchal region. According to these findings, the authors speculated that the movements of the head and neck are likely to affect the shape of the cervical dural sleeve via the TBNL and VDL. It is hypothesized that the muscles directly associated with the cervical dural sleeve, in the suboccipital region, may work as a pump providing an important force required to move the CSF in the spinal canal.

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Connection of the Posterior Occipital Muscle and Dura Mater of the Siamese Crocodile

Zhang

Tang

Zhang

et al. 2016

The Anatomical Record

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The myodural bridge was proposed initially in 1995. The myodural bridge is a connective tissue bridge that connects a pair of deep muscles at the suboccipital region to the dura mater. There have been numerous studies concerning the morphology and function of the myodural bridge. To determine whether a myodural bridge exists in reptiles, six Siamese crocodiles were investigated using gross anatomy dissection and P45 sheet plastination technologies. As a result, we demonstrated that the posterior occipital muscles of the Siamese crocodile are directly or indirectly connected to the proatlas, atlas, and intermembrane between them. Multiple trabeculae existing in the posterior epidural space extended from the ventral surface of the proatlas, atlas, and intermembrane between them to the dorsal surface of the spinal dura mater. This study showed that the posterior occipital muscle in the suboccipital region of the Siamese crocodile is connected to the spinal dura mater through the proatlas, atlas, and the trabeculae. In conclusion, a myodural bridge-like structure exists in reptiles. This connection may act as a pump to provide cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation at the occipitocervical junction. We hypothesize that a physiologic role of the Siamese crocodile's myodural bridge may be analogous to the human myodural bridge. Anat Rec, 299:1402-1408, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Magnetic resonance imaging investigation of the atlanto‐axial interspace

Cited by 33 publications

References 19 publications

Anatomical Parameters of the Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor Muscle Based on a New Magnetic Resonance Scan Method

Anatomical Parameters of the Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor Muscle Based on a New Magnetic Resonance Scan Method

Definition of the To Be Named Ligament and Vertebrodural Ligament and Their Possible Effects on the Circulation of CSF

Connection of the Posterior Occipital Muscle and Dura Mater of the Siamese Crocodile

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