24.4 Anat: bones and joints of the neck

Question 1

What are the deep cervical fascia of the neck?

Answer 1

Prevertebral layer
Pretracheal layer
Carotid sheath
Investing layer

Question 2

What muscles help maintain cervical lordosis?

Answer 2

Postvertebral muscles (as the centre of gravity is forward)

Question 3

What is special about C7?

Answer 3

It has the longest spinous process (vertebra prominens)

Question 4

What angle are the articular surfaces in the neck oriented in?

Answer 4

45 degrees

Question 5

What vertebra have uncinate processes? What do they do?

Answer 5

C3-C6

Guide movement

Question 6

What does the atlas not have?

What is special about its transverse processes?

Answer 6

No body or spinous process

Longest transverse process

Question 7

What does the axis have?

Answer 7

Dens

Strong spinous process

Question 8

What kind of spinous processes exist on cervical vertebrae?

Answer 8

Bifid spinous processes

Question 9

What is a cervical rib at C7 called?

Answer 9

Cranial shift (elongation of anterior tubercle)

Question 10

Where does the subclavian artery run (inbetween which layers)?

Answer 10

Between scalenus anterior and medius

Question 11

What muscle helps maintain curvature of the cervical spine?

Answer 11

Longus colli

Question 12

What attaches to the spinous process of C2?

Answer 12

Erector spinae

Question 13

What is the landmark for the carotid tubercle and the bifurcation of the CCA?

Answer 13

Carotid tubercle: Ant tubercle C6

CCA: C4

Question 14

Where can the vertebral artery run?

Answer 14

In the transverse foraminae of C6-C1

Question 15

Why can we get neck pain with aging?

Answer 15

The spinal nerves can be impinged on when IV discs collapse and develop osteophytes

Question 16

What is the relative size of the IV discs of the cervical vertebra?

Answer 16

Largest in the vertebral column

Question 17

When can cervical prolapse occur?

Answer 17

Trauma, F/E +/- rotation

Question 18

When are facet joints particularly susceptible to compression?

Answer 18

Hyperextension injury e.g. whiplash

Question 19

What % ROM occurs on the atlanto-occipital joints?

Answer 19

15-20% F/E

Question 20

What % ROM occurs on the atlanto-axial joints>

Answer 20

50% rotation

Question 21

What is the important ligament of the cervical spine?

Answer 21

Ligamentum nuchae

Question 22

What ligament prevents over-rotation? What prevents dens moving posteriorly?

Answer 22

Alar ligaments

Transverse ligament

Question 23

When can a Hangman’s fracture occur?

What results?

Answer 23

When hitting the steering wheel not wearing a seatbelt (head hyperextends)

Fracture through bilateral pedicles

Question 24

What is a Jefferson’s fracture? What results?

Answer 24

Dive into shallow water e.g.

Bilateral fracture of the anterior arch and pedicle