Anatomy and Procedures of the Cervical Spine Flashcards
What forms the central axis of the skeleton?
Vertebral Column
What is located in the posterior trunk?
Vertebral Column
What are the functions of the Vertebral Column?
- encloses and protects spinal cord
- supports trunk and skull
- provides muscle attachments
Where is the Vertebral Column centered?
Centered in the midsagittal plane
Vertebral Column is composed of small irregular bones called what?
vertebrae
How many vertebrae are in early life?
total of 33 vertebrae in early life
How many vertebrae are considered true and movable?
24
What are considered false and fixed vertebrae?
sacral and coccygeal vertebrae
What is fuse in the sacrum?
sacral vertebrae
What is fuse to form coccyx?
Coccygeal vertebrae
What are the 5 groups in the Vertebral Column?
- Cervical vertebrae
- thoracic vertebrae
- lumbar vertebrae
- sacral vertebrae
- coccygeal vertebrae
How many groups is the Vertebral Column divided into?
5 groups
Has 4 curves that arch anteriorly and posteriorly from midcoronal plane?
Vertebral Column
Lordotic curves are considered what anteriorly?
convex
Kyphotic curves are what anteriorly?
concave
Cervical is what type of curve?
Lordotic
Thoracic is what type of curve?
Kyphotic
Lumbar is what type of curve?
Lordotic
Pelvic is what type of curve?
Kyphotic
Cervical curve anteriorly is considered what?
Convex
Thoracic curve anteriorly is considered what?
concave
Lumbar curve anteriorly is considered what?
convex
Pelvic curve is considered what anteriorly?
concave
is a condition of abnormal lateral curvature of the spine
Scoliosis
is a condition of increased kyphotic curve of the thoracic spine (T- spine)
Kyphosis
How are curves in scolisis?
It curves right in the thorax and left in the lumbar
What help separates the vertebrae and is composed of fibrocartilage?
- function as cushions
intervertebral disks
Allow for movement of the bone
intervertebral disks
Disk is composed of
- annulus fibrosus
- nucleus pulposus
is known as outer, fibrocartilaginous disk
annulus fibrosus
Common area for slipped disks
L5 and S1
is known as central, soft mass
nucleus pulposus
Comes out of normal space and pushes on nerve ending
- known as “slipped disk”
Herniated Nucleus Pulposus (HNP)
A typical vertebrae is composed of?
- body (anterior)
- vertebral arch (posterior)
The two parts (body and vertebral arch) enclose a space known as
the vertebral foramen
What does the articulation of vertebral foramina form?
vertebral canal
Vertebral arch is formed by:
- 2 pedicles
- 2 laminae
- the above supports four articular processes, two transverse processes, and one spinous process
what projects from posterior part of the body
pedicles
bottom is concave to form what?
vertebral notches
articulation of vertebral notches form what?
intervertebral foramina
What is projected posteriorly and medially from pedicles
laminae
laminae is join together to create what?
posterior arch
Most posterior part of the vertebrae is
the spinous process
What is project laterally and a little posteriorly from junction of laminae and pedicles
transverse process
What projects posteriorly and inferiorly from junction of both laminae
spinous process
is congenital (born with it) in which the laminae fail to fuse. Laminae didn’t fully join together
Spina bifida
How many articular process arise from junction of pedicles and laminae?
4
- 2 superior
- 2 inferior
articulation form between superior and inferior
zygapophyseal joints
articulate with vertebrae above and below to form what?
zygapophyseal joints
What is another name for zygapophyseal joints
interarticular facet joints
How many Cervical vertebrae are there?
7
What occupy the neck region
Cervical vertebrae
area in which the superior and inferior articulation of 1 vertebrae to the other vertebrae articulate creating the joint space
zygapophyseal joints
For the Cervical vertebrae only where is the transverse foramina located?
Transverse foramina located on transverse processes
What kind of spinous process does Cervical vertebrae have?
bifid spinous process
What Cervical vertebrae does not have a spinous process?
C1
Body of the Cervical vertebrae is considered more what compared to the others
more squared
First two Cervical vertebrae are considered what because they join with the skull?
atypical
C1 is also known as
atlas
C2 is also known as
axis
articulates with back of the skull and occipital bone
- where head and neck attach
- only vertebrae that does not have a body
C1 atlas
Turns around on the dens (odontoid)
- makes it possible for our heads to spin around
C2 axis
C7 is also considered what since it joins with T- spine
atypical
What does C1 (Atlas) consist of:
- anterior arch
- posterior arch
- 2 lateral masses
- 2 transverse process