Cervical Vertebral Column Morphology Associated with Head Posture and Craniofacial Morphology

Significant associations have previously been described between craniofacial morphology, posture of the head and neck, and obstruction of the upper airways as seen in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Morphological deviations in the cervical vertebral column have also been described in relation to craniofacial syndromes and to cleft lip and/or palate. New findings have been made concerning associations between fusion of the cervical vertebral column and craniofacial morphology, including the cranial base, in patients with severe skeletal malocclusions. Another new finding was the association between fusion of the cervical vertebral column and head posture and between fusion of the cervical vertebral column and obstructive sleep apnea. Accordingly, it is suggested that fusion of the cervical vertebral column is associated with the development and function of the craniofacial morphology in the sagittal, vertical, and transversal planes.