The Retrotransverse Foramen of the Atlas Is not a Modern Anatomic Variation

Juan A Sanchis-Gimeno; Susanna Llido; Shahed Nalla

doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2018.11.241

The Retrotransverse Foramen of the Atlas Is not a Modern Anatomic Variation

World Neurosurg. 2019 Mar:123:174-176. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.11.241. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Authors

Juan A Sanchis-Gimeno¹, Susanna Llido², Shahed Nalla³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, University of Valencia, Faculty of Medicine, Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: Juan.sanchis@uv.es.
² Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, University of Valencia, Faculty of Medicine, Valencia, Spain.
³ Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, South Africa.

PMID: 30557656
DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.11.241

Abstract

Background: The retrotransverse foramen (RTF) is a nonmetric variant of the atlas vertebra that consists of an abnormal accessory foramen located on the posterior root of the transverse process and it extends from the posterior root of the transverse process to the root of the posterior arch. Its presence has been related to regional variations of the venous circulation. It is currently unknown whether the RTF is a modern or an ancient anatomic variation.

Case description: We analyzed the skeletal remains from the late-ancient Roman necropolis (II-VI centuries ad) of La Boatella (Valencia, Spain) and we found a well-preserved individual skeleton that presented with a left retrotransverse foramen in C1.

Conclusions: The RTF is not a modern anatomic variation. As a result, ancient individuals had the same modifications in the regional circulation as modern subjects present today.

Keywords: Anatomy; Cervical atlas; Regional circulation; Spine; Variations.

Publication types

Historical Article

MeSH terms

Adult
Anatomic Variation*
Cervical Atlas / anatomy & histology*
Cervical Atlas / blood supply
Female
History, Ancient
Humans
Middle Aged
Roman World