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Lumbar vertebral dimensions provide vital clinical information of immense diagnostic benefits to medical experts. The present study provides data for lumbar vertebral dimensions of a cohort of specimens of South African females and males. Measurements were obtained from lumbar vertebrae from the osteological collections in the Discipline of Clinical Anatomy, Nelson Mandela School of Medicine using a digital caliper. The antero-posterior body diameter (APD), interpedicular distance (IPD), midsagittal diameter (MSD) and pedicle length (PL) were measured while ratio of MSD to APD was calculated. Results showed gradual increase from L1 to L5 for mean APD and IPD, and a decrease for mean PL from L1 to L5. Mean MSD was observed to present a "U" curve pattern from L1 to L5, while MSD/APD ratio decreased from L2 downwards. We report that certain lumbar dimensions also showed significant correlation with age at distinct lumbar levels. The present data provides a baseline of lumbar vertebral morphology for the South African adult cohort and requires further investigations with larger cohort.

The suprascapular notch (SSN) is important, as it is a risk factor in the development of suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome. The purpose of this study is to describe the morphology of the SSN of a sample of normal scapulae in the Discipline of Clinical Anatomy, University of KwaZulu Natal. Sixty scapulae were used consisting of 37 males and 23 females (mean age 51 years). The superior transverse diameter and maximal depth of the notches were measured. Comparisons were made of the notch in relation to the maximal width and length of the scapulae, laterality and sex. The Rengachary classification method was adopted to describe the shape of the SSN. Analysis of morphological variations showed Type II- wide blunted V-shaped notch to be predominant (65%). Three scapulae had absent notches (Type I). The average notch depth and transverse diameter were 6.51±2.69 mm and 13.18±5.52 mm respectively. The right SSN were significantly deeper than the left (7.54±2.51 mm) (p

The suprascapular notch (SSN) is important, as it is a risk factor in the development of suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome. The purpose of this study is to describe the morphology of the SSN of a sample of normal scapulae in the Discipline of Clinical Anatomy, University of KwaZulu Natal. Sixty scapulae were used consisting of 37 males and 23 females (mean age 51 years). The superior transverse diameter and maximal depth of the notches were measured. Comparisons were made of the notch in relation to the maximal width and length of the scapulae, laterality and sex. The Rengachary classification method was adopted to describe the shape of the SSN. Analysis of morphological variations showed Type II- wide blunted V-shaped notch to be predominant (65%). Three scapulae had absent notches (Type I). The average notch depth and transverse diameter were 6.51±2.69 mm and 13.18±5.52 mm respectively. The right SSN were significantly deeper than the left (7.54±2.51 mm) (p