Gulgiz HUSEYNOVA, Narmin AFANDIYEVA
Journal of Experimental and Clinical Medicine - 2026;43(2):197-200
This study aimed to evaluate the morphological characteristics of the arcuate foramen (foramen arcuate, FA) of the atlas vertebra and to analyze its morphometric parameters. The material consisted of 54 adult human first cervical vertebrae obtained from the anatomical bone collection of the Department of Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology at Azerbaijan Medical University. The anteroposterior and craniocaudal diameters of the arcuate foramen were measured using a digital caliper with an accuracy of 0.01 mm, and the area of the foramina was calculated. The area of the FA was determined using the formula S = pi x A x B / 4, where A represents the craniocaudal diameter and B represents the anteroposterior diameter of the arcuate foramen. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 16.0. Descriptive statistics included mean +/- standard deviation (SD), median, minimum, and maximum values. Comparative analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test due to unequal sample sizes. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. According to the study, 24% of the examined atlas vertebrae demonstrated different types of arcuate foramen variations: 5.5% unilateral arcuate foramen, 13% unilateral bony protrusion, 1.9% bilateral arcuate foramen, and 3.4% bilateral bony protrusions. The area of the arcuate foramen was greater than that of the transverse foramen, reaching approximately twofold larger values in some specimens. The findings demonstrate notable anatomical variability of the arcuate foramen in the studied sample. Further studies with larger sample sizes and clinical correlations are required to clarify the functional significance of this anatomical variation.
