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Morphometric analysis of dry atlas vertebrae in a northeastern Thai population and possible correlation with sex

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Abstract

Purpose

The uppermost segment of the cervical vertebra or atlas (C1) is a critically important anatomical structure, housing the medulla oblongata and containing the grooves for the C1 spinal nerve and the vertebral vessels. Variations of the C1 vertebra can affect upper spine stability, and morphometric parameters have been reported to differ by population. However, there are few data regarding these parameters in Thais. The use of this bone to predict sex and age has never been reported.

Methods

This study aimed to examine C1 morphometry and determine its ability to predict sex. Twelve diameter parameters were taken from the C1 vertebrae of identified skeletons (n = 104, males [n, 54], females [n, 50]). Correlation analysis was also performed for sex and age, which were predicted using machine learning algorithms.

Results

The results showed that 8 of the 12 measured parameters were significantly longer in the male atlas (p < 0.05), while the remaining 4 (distance between both medial-most edges of the transverse foramen, transverse dimension of the superior articular surface, frontal plane passing through the canal’s midpoint, and anteroposterior dimension of the inferior articular surface) did not differ significantly by sex. There was no statistically significant difference in these parameters on the lateral side. The decision stump classifier was trained on C1 parameters, and the resulting model could predict sex with 82.6% accuracy (root mean square error = 0.38).

Conclusion

Assertation of the morphometric parameters of the atlas is important for preoperative assessment, especially for the treatment of atlas dislocation. Our findings also highlighted the potential use of atlas measurements for sex prediction.

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase mankind's overall knowledge that can then improve patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude [11]. We would also like to acknowledge Dr. Dylan Southard for editing this MS via the KKU Publication Clinic (Thailand).

Funding

This research received no external funding.

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Author notes

  1. Chanasorn Poodendan and Athikhun Suwannakhan contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand

    Chanasorn Poodendan

  2. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand

    Athikhun Suwannakhan

  3. In Silico and Clinical Anatomy Research Group (iSCAN), Bangkok, 10400, Thailand

    Athikhun Suwannakhan

  4. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

    Tidarat Chawalchitiporn, Sitthichai Iamsaard & Arada Chaiyamoon

  5. Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Mitraparp Road, Khon Kaen, Thailand

    Yuichi Kasai

  6. Streamlit Inc, San Francisco, CA, 94121, USA

    Chanin Nantasenamat

  7. Princess Srisavangavadhana College of Medicine, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand

    Laphatrada Yurasakpong

Authors
  1. Chanasorn Poodendan
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  2. Athikhun Suwannakhan
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  8. Arada Chaiyamoon
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Contributions

CP, AS and AC: protocol and project establishment. TC, YK and LY: data collection, material resources. AC, AS, CN, SI: data analysis. AC, SI: manuscript writing and editing.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Sitthichai Iamsaard or Arada Chaiyamoon.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The Office of The Khon Kaen University Ethics Committee in Human Research has approved this study (approval number: HE631363).

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Poodendan, C., Suwannakhan, A., Chawalchitiporn, T. et al. Morphometric analysis of dry atlas vertebrae in a northeastern Thai population and possible correlation with sex. Surg Radiol Anat 45, 175–181 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-022-03076-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-022-03076-6

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