Introduction: A crucial structure of the cervical spine,the uncinate process; is studied well in adults but there is a great lack of knowledge in childhood period and embryologic or fetal stage of life. Surveys on uncinate process of cervical vertebrae have been driven on C3-C7 vertebrae in common. One detail which is passed over is that all these surveys were carried on adults and none on fetuses. In this study we targeted to state the development of cervical uncinate process in fetuses.

Methods: 13 fetuses aged 21 week to 38 weeks were used for this study. Cervical spinal regions of all the specimens were removed from fetal bodies. After this stage all the cervical vertebral portions were dissected under a surgical microscope(Zeis universal S3 OPMI 6 CFC and Zeis OPMI Pentero).First they were dissected from outer aspect and after this they were dissected from inner aspect. All the specimens were photographed under the microscope and the parameters which we planned to measure were done .The photograhs were transferred to a software programme(image J).

Results: We found that the uncinate process is visible in early stage of life. Foramens are ovoid in shape in upper cervical segments than lowers which are more spheric. From a point of sectioning the spinal nerves were traversing more horizontally in upper portions and with age this angle was changing to a oblic or vertical angle.

Conclusions: Cervical uncinate process and its development is specially important in cervical spondylotic diseases and its treatment. By our study we found that it is developed in very early stage of life but why it is developing is still not clear as this period of life not a load bearing period for the spine and vertebrae.

Patient Care: will provide better understanding of cervical stenosis and spondylosis and help future investigations

Learning Objectives: Participants should be able to:1)Learn when the uncinate process is starting to develop 2) Switch angles cervical spinal nerve roots 3)Measurements of the neural foramen

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