Abstract
We report our investigations into the detailed pathogenesis of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy from examining the anatomical morphology of the cervical spine in 111 cadavers, and the spinal cord in 5 cadavers. At the facet joints, most of the superior articular processes at C4 and C5 were located anterior from the posterior margin of the vertebral body, while most of the superior articular processes at C3 and C7 were located posterior from the posterior margin of the vertebral body. Examination of the nerve roots derived from the spinal cord, revealed that the motor roots at C4, C5, C6, and C7 were derved from the spinal cord with significantly more width than the C8 motor root. Also, sensory roots derived from the spinal cord with a smaller width than motor roots. We postulate that main causes for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy are these morphological differences at the level of the cervical spine.
