Vertebrogenesis: what the discoveries of the 21st century added into the classical understanding of the embryogenesis of the spine in general and of the craniovertebral zone in particular. Scientific review

Classical concepts of embryogenesis of the spine, supplemented by modern data on the role of extracellular matrix factors, specific cell adhesionmolecules, signaling molecules, and Hox and Pax genes are presented. They allow us to get closer to understanding the molecular genetic cascades possibly regulating the development of the axial skeleton. Particular attention is paid to the data on the influence of these factors on the morphogenesis of the craniovertebral zone and its defects, primarily associated with segmentation disorders.