When we ask this - we should let you know that there isn't a caudal or cranial shift - all verts are present and accounted for as preservation is very good. So, this is an additional 6th lumbar that is sacralizing (in many cases) in a number of people from one burial area. 

if the sixth lumbar vertebra is present ..WILL THERE BE ANY PRESSURE ON NERVES AND THE PERSON FEELS PAIN.HAVE YOU SEEN PRACTICALLY THE PERSON WHO HAS EXTRA  THIS SIXTH LUMBAR VERTEBRA

No idea - these skeletons are over 1000 years old. We're trying to find out if anyone has seen a familial case like this with multiple people with an extra lumbar. 

Hi,

Check "Bergman’s Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation". In this texbook chapter 5 and chapter 6 about the anatomy variations of the lumbar and sacral vertebrae. 

Kind regards

Hi again,

In your finding, I can see 6 pairs of foramina sacralia. This means sacrum is composed of 7 vertebrae. In the Bergman's textbook it was mentioned that 0.2% of 631 sacrums, it was found to be composed of 7 vertebrae.

Hi,

You can check this article too

Lundy JK. Sacralization of a sixth lumbar vertebra and its effect upon the estimation of living stature. J Forensic Sci. 1988 Jul;33(4):1045-9. 

Kind regards

Hi,

Look here:

http://www.spinalcord.com/blog/the-sixth-lumbar-vertebrae-the-anatomy-behind-the-rare-extra-bone

Thanks all, especially Sedat! We've actually seen the J Forensic Sciences article - in our case, we have around 12 people in one small burial area with this condition - both males and females and ranging in age from around 12-60 years. So, we think it's familial, but have had trouble finding other peer-reviewed publications that show relatedness or DNA studies (which will be a future avenue to pursue with these skeletal remains). 

Dear Sara,

there's quite some literature on the genetic base of adding vertebral segments in lizards and snakes, where the number of vertebrae is extremely variable. If you can't find anything on humans, maybe that might be an interesting starting point for your studies.

A couple of these studies are the following:

Mallo M, Wellik DM, Deschamps J. Hox genes and regional patterning of the vertebrate body plan. DevBiol. 2010; 344(1):7–15. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2010.04.024PMID:204350293.

Böhmer C, Rauhut OWM, Wörheide G. Correlation between Hox code and vertebral morphology inarchosaurs. Proc R Soc B. 2015; 282(1810):20150077. doi:10.1098/rspb.2015.0077PMID:260855834.

Thanks! We've seen references to dogs as well, but those might be good starting points. 

Thank you for these suggestions! We'll look into them.

A few days ago i had to deal with an injured, male 28 yrs old rider, sustained a pelvic fracture APC I according to Young and Burgess,

Looking carefully CT scan (pelvis and abdomen) there is a complete sacralization of 6th lumbar vertebra with 5 pairs of sacrum foramina.

Very interesting - thank you for your response. Any idea if there is a family history of this condition?

ok i am going to check his family. i hope that they will give their consent.

Hi Sara,

we have two similar cases from one archaeological site, but do not have a DNA study to confirm relatedness yet.

Have you published any preliminary report on this?

I have not, although I need to resubmit the article I wrote with a few changes/additions. Suggestions were to get DNA, but last I heard, my co-author was hoping to submit for DNA but I don't know if he's sent the samples off.

a couple of weeks ago his mother had a CT of pelvis and she had 4 pair of foramina. So, it seems that there is not a family history...