Yonsei Med J.  2016 Jul;57(4):968-972. 10.3349/ymj.2016.57.4.968.

Surgical Anatomy of the Longus Colli Muscle and Uncinate Process in the Cervical Spine

• Park MS
• Moon SH
• Kim TH
• Oh JK
• Kim HJ
• Park KT
• Riew KD

• KMID: 2374131
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2016.57.4.968

Abstract

PURPOSE
There have been a few previous reports regarding the distances between the medial borders of the longus colli to expose the disc space. However, to our knowledge, there are no reports concerning longus colli dissection to expose the uncinate processes. This study was undertaken to assess the surgical relationship between the longus colli muscle and the uncinate process in the cervical spine.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study included 120 Korean patients randomly selected from 333 who had cervical spine MRIs and CTs from January 2003 to October 2013. They consisted of 60 males and 60 females. Each group was subdivided into six groups by age from 20 to 70 years or more. We measured three parameters on MRIs from C3 to T1: left and right longus colli distance and inter-longus colli distance. We also measured three parameters on CT: left and right uncinate distance and inter-uncinate distance.
RESULTS
The longus colli distances, uncinate distances, and inter-uncinate distances increased from C3 to T1. The inter-longus colli distances increased from C3 to C7. There was no difference in longus colli distances and uncinate distances between males and females. There was no difference in the six parameters for the different age groups.
CONCLUSION
Although approximate guidelines, we recommend the longus colli be dissected approximately 5 mm at C3-5, 6 mm at C5-6, 7 mm at C6-7, and 8 mm at C7-T1 to expose the uncinate process to its lateral edge.

Keyword

Cervical spine; longus colli muscle; uncinate process; surgery

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Cervical Vertebrae/*anatomy & histology/diagnostic imaging/*surgery
Dissection
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neck Muscles/*anatomy & histology/diagnostic imaging/*surgery
Random Allocation
Young Adult

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Distance of longus colli muscle on axial image of MRI: (A) the distance from the lateral margin of the vertebral body to the medial margin of the right longus colli muscle (right longus colli distance), (B) the distance from the medial margin of the right longus colli muscle to that of the left longus colli muscle (inter-longus colli distance), and (C) the distance from the medial margin of the left longus colli muscle to the lateral margin of the vertebral body (left longus colli distance).

• 

  Fig. 2 Distance of uncinate processes on axial image of CT: (A) the distance from the lateral margin of the vertebral body to the medial margin of the right uncinate process (right uncinate distance), (B) the distance from the medial margin of the right uncinate process to that of the left uncinate process (inter-uncinate distance), and (C) the distance from the medial margin of the left uncinate process to the lateral margin of the vertebral body (left uncinate distance).

• 

  Fig. 3 Distance of longus colli muscles and uncinate processes according to cervical disc levels (mm).

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