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From Paleozoology to Modern Times: Can you believe that dinosaurs also had spinal abnormalities?
In recent years, the scientific community's understanding of dinosaurs has continued to improve, and as research deepens, many medical phenomena that have never been confirmed in the past have begun to surface. In particular, the problem of spinal abnormalities is not limited to modern creatures, even dinosaurs may have been troubled by this. Therefore, modern science is providing clearer answers regarding spinal deformities in ancient creatures.
Overview of Congenital Spinal Anomalies
Congenital spinal anomalies refer to various deformities of the spine, of which approximately 85% do not cause clinically significant effects, but some may lead to spinal cord compression or spinal instability. These abnormalities arise from problems during embryonic development and involve changes in the shape or number of vertebrae.
Types of Spinal Abnormalities
Lumbarization and sacralization
Spondylosis is the failure of the first and second sacral vertebrae to fuse, resulting in the lumbar region appearing to have six vertebrae instead of five. This sixth lumbar vertebra is called a transitional vertebra, while the sacral vertebra appears to have only four segments. Generally speaking, this spinal abnormality occurs in about 10% of adults.
Hemivertebra
A hemivertebra is a wedge-shaped spine, which can cause curvature of the spine, such as kyphosis, scoliosis, etc. These abnormalities often cause neurological problems, most commonly in the thoracic spine, particularly the eighth thoracic vertebra (T8). Typically, these abnormalities cause no symptoms, but severe cases may require surgery to relieve spinal cord compression and stabilize the spine.
Hemivertebrae are often associated with various genetic syndromes, such as Aicardi syndrome, Cleidocranial dysplasia, and Gorlin syndrome.
Blocky spine
The formation of blocky vertebrae is due to abnormal differentiation of the vertebrae, which may lead to partial or complete fusion of the vertebrae, thus affecting the normal function of the nerve roots. These abnormalities can lead to neurological problems, and specific angles in the spine may be associated with certain syndromes such as Klippel–Feil syndrome.
Butterfly spine
The butterfly spine presents a unique butterfly-shaped structure, mainly because of the continued presence of the notochord during the formation of the spine. This abnormality usually has no obvious symptoms and is common in some dog breeds, such as the Chow Chow and Boston Terrier.
Paleontological Observations
Paleontologists studying the fossil record have found that dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex also had blocky variations in their spines. This suggests that the basic pattern of development of the spine can be traced back to at least the most recent common ancestor of reptiles and mammals.
This blocky spine is most likely caused by "failure of remodeling of the vertebral segment."
Disorders related to abnormal spine
Many spinal anomalies are associated with other specific conditions and are often integrated into the so-called VACTERL syndrome, which includes spinal anomalies, anal atresia, cardiovascular anomalies, etc. These associations are not only documented in modern organisms, but may also be reflected in studies of ancient organisms.
ConclusionWhile science is gaining new insights into spinal anomalies, whether they can actually explain the physiological challenges that dinosaurs may have faced in the past remains an unresolved question. When faced with this ancient and mysterious phenomenon, do such questions spark your interest in paleontology?
