Transitional vertebra
Updates to Article Attributes
A transitional vertebra is one that has indeterminate characteristics and features of vertebrae from adjacent vertebral segments. They occur at the junction between spinal morphological segments:
-
atlanto-occipital junction
atlanto-occipital assimilation: complete or partial fusion of C1 and the occiput
occipital vertebra: an additional bone between C1 and the occiput
-
cervicothoracic junction
cervical rib arising from C7
-
thoracolumbar junction
lumbar (13th) rib arising from T13 or L1 (depending on numbering)
-
lumbosacral junction
lumbosacral transitional vertebra: most common
Their importance stems both because the altered anatomy can be symptomatic (e.g. cervical rib causing thoracic outlet syndrome) or because they can lead to confusion when describing findings and thus lead to an incorrect level operation.
Radiographic features
MRI
best identified on sagittal T1W and T2W images-
correct identification can only be definitively proven ifRadiographic features vary according to the
entirearea of the spineis imaged
-<li>atlanto-occipital junction<ul>-<a href="/articles/atlanto-occipital-assimilation">atlanto-occipital assimilation</a>: complete or partial fusion of C1 and the occiput</li>-<li>-<a href="/articles/occipital-vertebra">occipital vertebra</a>: an additional bone between C1 and the occiput</li>- +<p>atlanto-occipital junction</p>
- +<ul>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/atlanto-occipital-assimilation">atlanto-occipital assimilation</a>: complete or partial fusion of C1 and the occiput</p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/occipital-vertebra">occipital vertebra</a>: an additional bone between C1 and the occiput</p></li>
-<li>cervicothoracic junction<ul><li>-<a href="/articles/cervical-rib">cervical rib</a> arising from C7</li></ul>- +<li>
- +<p>cervicothoracic junction</p>
- +<ul><li><p><a href="/articles/cervical-rib">cervical rib</a> arising from C7</p></li></ul>
-<li>thoracolumbar junction<ul><li>-<a href="/articles/lumbar-rib">lumbar (13<sup>th</sup>) rib</a> arising from T13 or L1 (depending on numbering)</li></ul>- +<li>
- +<p>thoracolumbar junction</p>
- +<ul><li><p><a href="/articles/lumbar-rib">lumbar (13<sup>th</sup>) rib</a> arising from T13 or L1 (depending on numbering)</p></li></ul>
-<li>lumbosacral junction<ul><li>-<a href="/articles/lumbosacral-transitional-vertebra">lumbosacral transitional vertebra</a>: most common</li></ul>- +<li>
- +<p>lumbosacral junction</p>
- +<ul><li><p><a href="/articles/lumbosacral-transitional-vertebra">lumbosacral transitional vertebra</a>: most common</p></li></ul>
-</ul><p>Their importance stems both because the altered anatomy can be symptomatic (e.g. cervical rib causing <a href="/articles/thoracic-outlet-syndrome">thoracic outlet syndrome</a>) or because they can lead to confusion when describing findings and thus lead to an incorrect level operation.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>MRI</h5><ul>-<li>best identified on sagittal T1W and T2W images</li>-<li>correct identification can only be definitively proven if the entire spine is imaged</li>-</ul>- +</ul><p>Their importance stems both because the altered anatomy can be symptomatic (e.g. cervical rib causing <a href="/articles/thoracic-outlet-syndrome">thoracic outlet syndrome</a>) or because they can lead to confusion when describing findings and thus lead to an incorrect level operation.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><p>Radiographic features vary according to the area of the spine involved. Please see the links above for examples.</p>
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.