Morphology of the dens-a quantitative study

Morphn metric studies of the dens of the second cervical vertebra were performed t>n a sample of one hundred twenty bones from the Hamann-Todd Collection. Da?a wore collected on the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the dena, as well as the size of the dens relative to the centrum of C2 Relationships of dens dimensions to body sire and sexual dimorphism were evaluated. In both longitudinal and tranevorse mean dimensions, the dsns in males was slightly, but significantly larger (5-10%! than In females. The relative distributions of dens dimension? were consistently skewed toward tho higher values in males and the lower values in femeles. Body height or weight wore not significantly correlated with dens dimensions, and were therefore poor ptedlctors of tho size of the dens, Implications for screw fixation of fractures of the dens ore discussed.