3.1 Osteology and Radiography of the Cervical Spine

Question 1

What is the alternative name for the C1 vertebrae?

Answer 1

Atlas

Question 2

What is the alternative name for the C2 vertebrae?

Answer 2

Axis

Question 3

What is special about the atlas bone?

Answer 3

No body or spinous process

Question 4

What is special about the axis bone?

Answer 4

Odontoid peg (Dens)

Question 5

What is the function of the Dens?

Answer 5

Allows movement of the head

Question 6

What movement does the axis allow?

Answer 6

Horizontal movement

Question 7

What movement does the atlas allow?

Answer 7

Vertical movement

Question 8

What is special about the C7 vertebra?

Answer 8

Prominent, non-bifid spinous process, large transverse process

Question 9

Describe some features of a ‘normal’ cervical vertebrae

Answer 9

Body
Triangle shaped vertebral foramen
Transverse foramen
Bifid spine

Question 10

What is a burst fracture (Jefferson)?

Answer 10

Break on both sides of atlas

Caused by falling head first from height

Question 11

What is a hangman’s fracture?

Answer 11

Hyperextension of the head on the neck. Lamina of axis breaks

Question 12

How many bones make up the skull?

Answer 12

22

Question 13

How are the bones of the skull connected?

Answer 13

Sutures or symphyses

Question 14

Which main bones make up the ‘box’ of the skull?

Answer 14

Frontal
Parietal
Temporal
Sphenoid
Occipital

Question 15

What is the major opening into the skull called?

Answer 15

Foramen magnum

Question 16

What type if bones are the skull bones?

Answer 16

Flat bones- dense and strong

Question 17

Describe the composition of the cranium

Answer 17

Tri-lamina bony structure- 2 hard plates with a spongy bone plate (Dipoe) between

Question 18

What is the Calvaria?

Answer 18

Bony housing of the brain

Question 19

What is the name of the two suture points in the cranial cap?

Answer 19

Bregma point

Lambda point

Question 20

Where is the frontal bone located?

Answer 20

Anterior part of skull vault, upper border of orbital margins, roof of orbit

Question 21

Where is the parietal bone located?

Answer 21

Large part of the side and roof of the cranial cavity

Question 22

Where is the ethmoid bone located?

Answer 22

Midline of the anterior cranial fossa, projects into the nose

Question 23

Describe the sphenoid bone

Answer 23

Made up of body, 2 wings and the pterygoid process

Question 24

Describe the connections between the bones in a neonate skull

Answer 24

Cranial sutures wide, bones held together by thick connective tissue (fontanelles)

Question 25

Why is a neonate skull loosely connected?

Answer 25

To allow movement between the bones during birth