The gross anatomical features of human cervical vertebrae during
the fetal-neonatal period were
investigated in order to develop morphological standards for the individual
ossification centres for use in
forensic and anthropological osteology. It was found that the morphology
of the cervical vertebral arches
and the centra cannot be used for the determination of fetal age although
the dens of the axis displays some
developmental differences which may be useful for the determination of
fetal maturity.
