In human anatomy, arcuate foramen, also known as ponticulus posticus (Latin for "little posterior bridge"), refers to a bony bridge on the atlas (C1 vertebra) that covers the groove for the vertebral artery. It is a common anatomic variant and estimated to occur in approximately 3-15% of the population.^[1][2][3] Females are more commonly affected than males.^[2][4]

[edit] Pathology

The presence of arcuate foramen is associated with headache, musculoskeletal pain^[2] and vertebrobasilar stroke.^[1]

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Cushing K, Ramesh V, Gardner-Medwin D, Todd N, Gholkar A, Baxter P, Griffiths P (2001). "Tethering of the vertebral artery in the congenital arcuate foramen of the atlas vertebra: a possible cause of vertebral artery dissection in children". Dev Med Child Neurol 43 (7): 491–6. doi:10.1017/S0012162201000901. PMID 11463182.  Full Text.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Cakmak O, Gurdal E, Ekinci G, Yildiz E, Cavdar S (2005). "Arcuate foramen and its clinical significance". Saudi Med J 26 (9): 1409–13. PMID 16155658. 
3. ^ Young J, Young P, Ackermann M, Anderson P, Riew K (2005). "The ponticulus posticus: implications for screw insertion into the first cervical lateral mass". J Bone Joint Surg Am 87 (11): 2495–8. doi:10.2106/JBJS.E.00184. PMID 16264126. 
4. ^ Stubbs D (1992). "The arcuate foramen. Variability in distribution related to race and sex". Spine 17 (12): 1502–4. doi:10.1097/00007632-199212000-00010. PMID 1471009. 

[edit] External links

• Ponticulus posticus - medcyclopaedia.com
• Ponticulus - medcyclopaedia.com