Castellvi classification of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae
The Castellvi classification is used for lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV):
-
type I: enlarged and dysplastic transverse process (at least 19 mm)
- Ia: unilateral
- Ib: bilateral
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type II: pseudoarticulation of the transverse process and sacrum with incomplete lumbarization/sacralization; enlargement of the transverse process with pseudoarthrosis
- IIa: unilateral
- IIb: bilateral
-
type III: transverse process fuses with the sacrum and there is complete lumbarization or sacralization, enlarged transverse process with complete fusion
- IIIa: unilateral
- IIIb: bilateral
- type IV: type IIa on one side and type III on the contralateral side
History and etymology
This classification system was initially described by Castellvi et al in 1984, in a study examining the association of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae with herniated lumbar discs 3.
Related pathology
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Anatomy: Spine
-
osteology
- vertebrae
- spinal canal
- cervical spine
- thoracic spine
- lumbar spine
- sacrum
- coccyx
-
anatomical variants
- vertebral body
- neural arch
- transitional vertebrae
- ossicles
- ossification centers
- intervertebral disc
- articulations
- ligaments
- musculature of the vertebral column
- muscles of the neck
- muscles of the back
-
suboccipital muscle group
- rectus capitis posterior major muscle
- rectus capitis posterior minor muscle
- obliquus capitis superior muscle
- obliquus capitis inferior muscle
- splenius capitis muscle
- splenius cervicis muscle
- erector spinae group
- transversospinalis group
- quadratus lumborum muscle
-
suboccipital muscle group
- spinal meninges and spaces
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spinal cord
- gross anatomy
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white matter tracts (white matter)
- corticospinal tract
- anterolateral columns
- lateral columns
-
dorsal columns
- fasiculus gracilis (column of Goll)
- fasiculus cuneatus (column of Burdach)
- grey matter
- nerve root
- central canal
- functional anatomy
- spinal cord blood supply
- sympathetic chain