الفهرس 
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Abstract
Spinal canal has a complex anatomy and contains highly
important structures such as spinal cord, and spinal nerves.
Spinal canal stenosis; Decline in the size of this canal would
increase chance of compression of these important structures.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the normal dimensions of
spinal canal in Egyptian population with respect to spinal level
and age.
The bony spinal canal of lumbar and cervical regions was
studied in three age groups; (20-39 years), (40-59) and (60and
older). The canal was also evaluated by dry bone examination.
Ninety eight CT scan; fifty six for cervical spine and forty two
for lumber spine were done in Massara Radiology center and
Techno Radiology center between January 2016 and June 2017
using TOSHIBA, Japanese (multislice 16) machine. One
hundred and four MR imaging; fifty cases for cervical MRI and
fifty four cases for lumber MRI was done in Massara Radiology
center and Techno Radiology center between January 2016 and
June 2017 using HITACHI, Japanese (0.3 tsla) machine. One
hundred and forty dry human vertebrae, eighty four cervical
vertebrae and fifty six lumbar one, obtained from the Anatomy
department, faculty of medicine, Sohag University.
For cervical canal (from C2 to C7),
diameters found to be widely variable fromC2 to C7, and
normal diameters defined as antero-posterior (APD) ranged
(from 9.60to20mm), and (from 11.2to19.5mm) in CT and
MRI respectively.
Whereas normal lumbar spinal canal defined
as antero-posterior diameter (APD) (from 10.3 to 18.6 mm),
(from 11.5 to 20 mm) in CT and MRI respectively and
interpedicular diameter ranged from 17.8 to 35 mm.
Summary
127
Comparison between levels showed that the
longest mean AP diameter and widest mean CSA of the
cervical canal were at C2, then diameters decrease gradually to
reach the shortest mean AP diameter and narrowest mean CSA
were at C4 then increase slightly gradually till C7. And As
regard IPD; the longest mean IPD diameter was at C2.
Whereas the longest mean AP diameter and
widest mean CSA area of the lumbar canal was at L1, then
measurements gradually decreased from L1 to L5, but Shortest
mean AP diameter in CT and dry bone was at L4. As
regarding the IPD the longest mean was at L5; with gradual
increase from L1 to L5.
Cervical and lumbar Spinal canal diameters,
both midsagittal antero-posterior canal diameter and Cross
sectional area, decreased steadily with age at all levels. But
this decrease is not significant in CT measurements of the
lumbar canal.
Difference in the significance of aging effect
between levels and methods could be attributed to presence of
other factors which suggested having effect on spinal canal
diameters; such as height and weight.
It was concluded that the normal spinal canal diameters have a
wide range which affected by many factors including race and
age. In Egyptian population, bony canal stenosis considered
with radiological APD less than 9.6 mm. in cervical segments
and 10.3 mm. in lumbar levels. Aging is accompanied with
steady decrease in the canal diameters but the significance of
aging is not constant among peoples or levels due to presence
of other factors which have an effect on spinal canal.