Author(s)

Anant Krishnan^1,2*, Guneet Kaleka¹, Scott Emerson², Guy Sovak³, Heather Simmons⁴, Kevin Brunner⁴, Dane Schalk⁴, John Sledge⁵, Amber Hoggatt⁶, Shanker Nesathurai^4,7,8

¹Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Auburn Hills, USA.
²Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Molecular Imaging, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, USA.
³Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, Toronto, Canada.
⁴Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, USA.
⁵Lafayette Bone and Joint Clinic, Lafayette, USA.
⁶Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
⁷Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, Hamilton, Canada.
⁸Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.

Background: This paper describes and displays the spinal radiological anatomy and associated pathology in a Macaca fascicularis and compares it to the spinal anatomy of humans. Animal models are commonly used in research. As compared to Macaca mulatta, the anatomy of M. fascicularis is less well described in the literature. Materials and methods: The authors anatomically reconstructed and reviewed the defleshed spine of a single adult M. fascicularis visually, radiographically, and with high resolution CT. Results: 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 6 lumbar, 3 sacral, and 16 caudal vertebrae were identified. Similarities in the spine to humans were seen as well as differences such as the beaked anterior arch of C1, the anterior pointed lower lumbar vertebrae, the upward curved transverse processes, and presence of three sacral segments. Degenerative changes were seen at multiple locations similar to humans though most pronounced at T3-4. Conclusions: This paper addresses the normal spinal anatomy and degenerative changes in an adult M. fascicularis and compares it to humans.

Macaca Fascicularis, Macaques, Spine Anatomy, Radiology, CT, Comparative Study, Computed Tomography

Krishnan, A. , Kaleka, G. , Emerson, S. , Sovak, G. , Simmons, H. , Brunner, K. , Schalk, D. , Sledge, J. , Hoggatt, A. and Nesathurai, S. (2022) Anatomical and Radiological Description of the Macaca fascicularis Spine in Comparison with the Human Spine. Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 12, 171-186. doi: 10.4236/ojvm.2022.1212014.