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The Cranial and Pelvic “Vertebrae” Are They Real Vertebrae?

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Spinal Anatomy

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Abstract

The terms cranial and pelvic vertebra, as coined by Jean Dubousset aim to integrate the skull and the pelvic ring into the spine to further understand many clinical facts. Nevertheless the precise study of the formation and growth of the skull makes it possible to identify that only the base of the skull, and mainly the occipital condyles, are actually part of the spine. At the level of the pelvic ring only the sacrum is part of the spine. Many morphological changes in pelvic angles occur during acquisition of bipedalism under the influence of gravitational constraints and muscle actions, including the erector spinae and gluteal muscles. The sacroiliac joint, situated at the center of the pelvic angle of incidence, undergoes changes during growth, pregnancy and at an advanced age. Finally, we explore the links between the position of the pelvis in the sagittal plane and the orientation of the acetabulum.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Spinal Unit, University Hospital, Bordeaux, France

    Jean Marc Vital & T. Chevillotte

  2. Anatomy Laboratory, University Hospital Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

    M. Laurentjoye

  3. Department of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, Polyclinique Saint Roch, Montpellier, France

    A. Dimeglio

Authors
  1. Jean Marc Vital
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  2. M. Laurentjoye
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  3. A. Dimeglio
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  4. T. Chevillotte
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Spinal Unit, Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

    Jean Marc Vital

  2. Spinal Unit, Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

    Derek Thomas Cawley

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Vital, J.M., Laurentjoye, M., Dimeglio, A., Chevillotte, T. (2020). The Cranial and Pelvic “Vertebrae” Are They Real Vertebrae?. In: Vital, J., Cawley, D. (eds) Spinal Anatomy . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20925-4_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20925-4_13

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-20924-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-20925-4

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