Abstract
A FAILURE OF RESEGMENTATION OF THE THORACIC VERTEBRA - A CONGENITAL ANOMALY

Embryological failure of proper segmentation of the vertebra may be congenital or acquired, which is a rare anomaly. Such fusions may occur in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar region. The fusion of thoracic vertebrae can present clinical signs like congenital scoliosis, shortening of the trunk and lordosis. During routine visual inspection of the vertebral collection housed in the Department of Anatomy, we found that a rare congenital fusion of the thoracic vertebrae, with ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament and fusions of all zygapophyseal joints were observed. Thus failure of resegmentation is the hallmark of vertebral development. Improper vertebral fusion may results in block vertebra or spinal fusion or vertebral synostosis.