Bilateral Posterior and Lateral Ponticles Resulting In the Formation of Vertebral Artery Canal for the Atlas: Case Report

Atlas first cervical vertebra having no spine and body differs from other vertebra.Contains two archs anterior and posterior.Posterior arch contains groove for vertebral artery.During routine osteology classes for undergraduate medical students, we observed presence of bilateral posterior and lateral ponticles which are forming canal for vertebral artery on behind and lateral to lateral mass of atlas.Present case report is very rare anomaly which may lead to stenosis of vertebral artery and may be useful for orthopaedics during surgical manipulation of cervical spine.