8 - Craniovertebral jts & disarticulation Flashcards
Dens =
odontoid process
What are the characteristics of these “special” vertebrae, C1 & C2?
Atlas (C1)
Supports the skull
No body
No spinous process
Anterior arch & Posterior arch
Large lateral masses support the occipital condyles of the skull superiorly and articulate with the axis inferiorly
Foramen transversarium located in the large transverse process
Axis (C2)
Dens (Odontoid process) located on the body’s superior surface
Foramen transversarium located in the small transverse process
Spinous process is large and bifid
Craniovertebral Joints- Atlanto-occipital joint
=
Contributes to nodding movement (“Yes”)
Allow for tilting of the head, side-to-side
Craniovertebral Joints- Atlanto-axial joint
Contributes to rotation movement (“No”)
Both craniovertebral joints are synovial joints with no
discs
Atlantoaxial
Anterior arch of C1 & dens of C2
Synovial, pivot joint
ROM: rotation (supplies 50% of cervical rotation
Atlanto-occipital
Occipital condyles & superior facets of C1
Synovial, condyloid joint
ROM: flexion/extension
Dura Mater & Tectorial Membrane
Cranial vault is lined with periosteal dura mater
Continuous inferiorly into spinal column
Beneath this is the tectorial membrane
A superior extension of the posterior longitudinal ligament
Beneath the tectorial membrane are the
craniovertebral joints and deep ligaments
Remember that the dura is continuous inferiorly
along the length of the spinal cord.
Tectorial Membrane is superficial to the
dura mater
A & P Longitudinal Ligaments is superficial to the
dura mater
Anterior Atlanto-occipital Membrane is the superior extension of the
Anterior Longitudinal ligament
Anterior Atlanto-occipital Membrane attaches to
base of occipital bone superiorly at margin of foramen magnum
Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane Covers
anterior arch of atlas inferiorly
Extends from anterior margin of foramen magnum to cover the
anterior arch of C1 – the atlas
Posterior Atlanto-occipital Membrane
Posterior membrane between atlas & occipital bone
Posterior Atlanto-occipital Membrane
Uppermost extent of ligamentum flavum
Fills in gaps between posterior vertebral arches
These form part of posterior wall of vertebral canal
Ligamentum Flava Fills in gaps between
posterior vertebral arches
Deep Ligaments
Transverse ligament of the atlas
Cruciform (cruciate) ligament of the atlas
Alar (check) ligaments
Apical ligament of the dens (apical dental)
Transverse Ligament of Atlas - holds
dens of axis (C2) tightly to anterior arch of atlas (C1)
Very strong, bow-shaped ligament
fractures of the dens usually occur at its
base and often these fractures do not reunite due to the position of the transverse ligament
Cruciform (Cruciate) Ligament - Formed by
transverse ligament of atlas & 2 bands
Superior longitudinal band – attaches to
Cruciform ligament
foramen magnum base
Cruciform ligament - Inferior longitudinal band –
attaches to dens of C2 post.
Both bands (Crura) vertically
oriented. Thus, all 3 form a crucifix (cross)
Alar (Check) Ligament - extends from
Strong paired ligaments
Extends from dens to medial portions of occipital condyles
Alar check ligament - checks
lateral rotation of skull/head
Alar check ligament - strong
Strong paired ligaments nearly as thick as a pencil
Apical Ligament of Dens
Slender band ascending from apex of dens
Apical ligament of dens attaches to
anterior margin of foramen magnum
Apical ligament of dens Located deep to
superior longitudinal band of cruciform ligament
Neurovascular Structures-
Internal jugular v. – Internal carotid a. – Sympathetic trunk – CN VII – CNs IX, X, XI – CN XII –
IJV
emerges from jugular foramen
Internal carotid a. –
enters carotid canal
Sympathetic trunk –
gives rise to internal carotid plexus
CN VII –
emerges from stylomastoid foramen
CNs IX, X, XI –
emerge from jugular foramen
CN XII –
emerges from hypoglossal canal
Pharynx – hangs from
pharyngeal tubercle
Carotid sheath – located
lateral & posterolateral to pharynx
Sympathetic trunk – located
posteromedial to carotid sheath
Ganglia at base of Skull
CNs IX & X –
Sympathetic trunk – gives rise to Superior Cervical Ganglion & sends off internal carotid plexus (travels on ICA)
CN IX and X ganglia
each give rise to superior and inferior ganglia (sensory ganglia within the jugular foramen)
Sympathetic trunk
gives rise to Superior Cervical Ganglion & sends off internal carotid plexus (travels on ICA)
Glossopharyngeal N. (CN IX) travels with
Travels with the stylopharyngeus m. between the ICA & ECA
Glossopharyngeal n. CN IX runs along lateral side of
m. & innervates it
Descends to the pharynx & back of tongue
CNs IX & X continue on as their main trunks of nerve after
leaving the superior and inferior ganglia within the jugular foramen
CN IX runs along the
stylopharyngeus m and innervates it then continues inferiorly to pharynx and back of tongue
Vagus N. (CN X) gives off
2 branches at base of skull
Pharyngeal n. – arises ~
2 cm inferior to skull base; traveling between ICA & ECA to innervate the pharynx
Superior Laryngeal n. – arises just below
pharyngeal br.; travels inferior to innervate larynx
Pharyngeal Plexus of nerves formed by
union of pharyngeal brs. Of CN IX & CN X
CN IX - pharyngeal plexus of nerves -
primarily contributes sensory fibers to plexus & innervates stylopharyngeus m.
CN X – pharyngeal plexus of nerves
supplies motor innervation to most pharyngeal mm. & carries p-symp.
Symp. fibers from superior cervical ganglion are
included in pharyngeal plexus of nerves
Accessory N. (CN XI) runs immediately
lateral to CN X at base of skull
Accessory n (CN XI) usually travels between
Usually travels between ICA & IJV as it descends
Accessory nerve supplies
Supplies the SCM & Trapezius mm.
Hypoglossal N. (CN XII) - emerges from
Emerges from hypoglossal canal
Hypoglossal N. (CN XII) - Runs inferior within
submandibular triangle
Hypoglossal N. (CN XII) - supplies
Supplies mm. of tongue
Removal of the Head
Craniovertebral joints – logical sites for removal
All ligaments holding joints together must be severed
Retropharyngeal space – logical plane for separation (of head & viscera from vertebral column)
Contains loose fibrous tissue easily separated
Retropharyngeal space located between
buccopharyngeal fascia & alar fascia
Retropharyngeal space - Extends from
base of skull to superior mediastinum
Retropharyngeal space - Easily accessed
posterior to carotid sheaths
Structures of Prevertebral Region
Sympathetic trunks CNs IX, X, XI & XII Cervical spinal nn. Vertebral vessels Pharyngeal plexuses of vv
CN IX
most anterior & travels to posterior tongue & pharynx
CN X –
found centrally in carotid sheath & travels into thorax
CN XI –
most posterior & travels to SCM & Trapezius
CN XII –
moves laterally & travels to tongue
C1-C4 –
cervical plexus; posterior to longus capitis/colli mm.
C3-C5 –
form phrenic nn.; descends ant. to anterior scalene mm.
C5-C8 –
forms brachial plexus; runs between anterior & middle scalene mm.
Cervical plexus –
nerve network formed by ventral rami of C1–C4.
The cervical and brachial plexuses emerge between
the anterior and middle scalene muscles.
Somatic Cervical plexuses
contributions from C1-C4.
Cervical plexus
nerve network formed by ventral rami of C1–C4.
There are sensory and motor contributions/components.
Cervical plexus, Ansa cervicalis (C1-C3):
motor branches to infrahyoid strap muscles
+ more motor branches; & Phrenic n. (some sensory
ansa cervicalis is formed by
a superior limb, C1 fibers associated with the hypoglossal nerve and an inferior limb formed by C2 and C3.
ansa cervicalis provides motor fibers to the
infrahyoid strap muscles.
C1 branches (that travel along the hypoglossal n CN XII) innervate the
geniohyoid m and the thyrohyoid m.
C1-C2 motor branches innervate
anterior and lateral rectus capitis and longus capitis and colli muscles
C3 motor branches to the
longus capitis and colli and levator scapulae muscles
C4 motor branches to
longus capitis and colli, levator scapulae and middle scalene muscles
Sole motor innervation to the diaphragm = ]
phrenic n. (fibers shown in green)
Phrenic nerve is 30% .
sensory
Irritation to both the superior and inferior surfaces of the CENTRAL part of the diaphragm is carried by
sensory fibers in the phrenic nerve.
Irritation to the superior and inferior surfaces of the PERIPHERAL portions of the is carried by the
intercostal nn.
Pharyngeal Plexus of Veins
2 pharyngeal plexuses of vv.
External Plexus
Internal plexus
External Plexus
forms outside of pharyngobasilar fascia
Internal Plexus –
between pharyngobasilar fascia & constrictor mm.
Both Internal and external plexuses drain into
pterygoid plexus of vv. & IJV at angle of mandible & multiple inferior brs.
Vertebral a.– arises from
subclavian a.
Vertebral v. – drains into
brachiocephalic v.
Both vertebral a and v located anterior to
cervical spinal nn.
Both VA and VV enter transverse foramina of
C6 & above
Vertebral Veins
Veins arise in the
suboccipital triangle & form plexuses
Vertebral veins Plexuses descend thru
transverse foramina
Continue to receive intervertebral & muscular vv. along path
Vertebral veins Ultimately drain into
brachiocephalic vv.
Cervical vertebrae specific feature
transverse foramen (only a few have bifid spinous process).
Posterior longitudinal ligament becomes
tectorial membrane at dura mater. (C2 is the cutoff)
Ligamentum flava is segmented
at each vertebrae
12 goes out and then back
in around oropharynx structures back to tongue
Glossopharyngeus m dives between
superior and middle constrictor in pharyngeal wall.