Sex differences in the intervertebral foramina’s shape and area of human thoracic spinal column during
development degenerative-dystrophic changes

Vladimir V. Zotkin, Traumatologist-orthopedist, Scientific And Research Institute of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Neurosurgery, Saratov State Medical University named after V.I. Razumovsky (112 Bolshaya Kazachya street, Saratov, Russia), E-mail: vladimir-zotkin@mail.ru
Elena A. Anisimova, Doctor of medical sciences, professor, professor of the sub-department of human anatomy, Saratov State Medical University named after V.I. Razumovsky (112 Bolshaya Kazachya street, Saratov, Russia), E-mail: eaan@mail.ru
Dmitriy I. Anisimov, Candidate of medical sciences, traumatologist-orthopedist, Scientific And Research Institute of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Neurosurgery, Saratov State Medical University named after V.I. Razumovsky (112 Bolshaya Kazachya street, Saratov, Russia), E-mail: anisimovd85@mail.ru
Dmitriy V. Popryga, Candidate of medical sciences, assistant of the sub-department of operational surgery and topographical anatomy, Saratov State Medical University named after V.I. Razumovsky (112 Bolshaya Kazachya street, Saratov, Russia), E-mail: poprugadv@yandex.ru 

Background. Purpose of the study is to determine the intervertebral foramina’s shape and area of the thoracic spinal column of men and women of the first period of adulthood. Material and methods. On 128 CT scans of the spinal column in lateral projections of subjects aged 21 to 35 years (66 men and 62 women), the shape and area of the intervertebral foramina of the thoracic spinal column were determined. Results. More often than others, oval and round shapes of the intervertebral foramina were observed, less often – threeand four-sided. The area of the intervertebral foramina increases from the cervicothoracic junction, towards the apex of the thoracic kyphosis, then decreases towards the level of the ThIX-X foramen, and increases significantly at the ThX-XI and ThXI-XII foramina. At the ThX-XI level, the area prevails in women compared to men by an average of 3,2%, at the ThXI-XII level – by 24,1% on the right and 23,8% on the left. Conclusions. In the thoracic spine there are various forms of intervertebral foramina: oval, round, three- and four-sided. The extent of various forms of intervertebral foramina depends on gender, level and side of location. The area of the intervertebral foramina increases from the cervicothoracic junction towards the apex of the thoracic kyphosis, then decreases towards the level of the IX foramen and increases significantly at the level of the X and, especially, the XI foramen. Gender differences in the area of the intervertebral foramina do not reach statistical significance; only at the level of the last two foramina do the area sizes prevail on CT scans of women. The dimensions of the area of the contralateral foramina do not differ, but the right-sided direction of dissymmetry was revealed. The variability in the area of the intervertebral foramina is significant, the coefficient of variation has average values (21,3–29,9%). 

thoracic spinal column, intervertebral foramina, degenerative-dystrophic changes, sex differences 

Zotkin V.V., Anisimova E.A., Anisimov D.I., Popryga D.V. Sex differences in the intervertebral foramina’s shape and area of human thoracic spinal column during degenerative-dystrophic changes. Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedeniy. Povolzhskiy region. Meditsinskie nauki = University proceedings. Volga region. Medical sciences. 2024;(2):117–127. (In Russ.). doi: 10.21685/2072-3032-2024-2-11