Anatomy of the Neck

Question 1

Where does the membrana tectoria sit?

Answer 1

Posterior wall of the vertebral bodies

Question 2

At what vertebral level does the CCA bificate?

Answer 2

C4

Question 3

Are prolapses more common in the cervical or lumbar spine?

Answer 3

Lumbar

Question 3

Which ligament connects the atlas and occiput?

Answer 3

The posterior atlanto-occipital membrane

Question 4

What is the name of the fascia that surrounds the centre layer of bones and muscles?

Answer 4

Prevertebral layer

Question 5

What are the 5 surface regions of the neck from anterior to posterior?

Answer 5

Anterior triangle

Root of the neck and Sternomastoid region

Posterior triangle

Back of the neck/vertebral region

Question 5

What structures run in the carotid sheath?

Answer 5

The carotid artery

The internal jugular vein

The vagus nerve

Question 5

Why does the head drop forward when people fall asleep in lectures?

Answer 5

Because the centre of gravity is infront of the cervical spine

Question 5

Where are the anterior and posterior tubercles located?

Answer 5

Ant and post to the transverse foraminae

Question 6

Where and what types are the joints atlanto-occipital joints?

Answer 6

Lateral aspect of the atlas

Synovial

Question 7

What do you call it when the first rib articulates with C7 instead of T1?

Answer 7

Cranial shift

Question 7

What movement occurs at the atlanto-occipital joints?

Answer 7

Nodding

Question 8

What is the function of the uncinate process of the vertebral bodies?

Answer 8

They keep movement in the sagittal plane

Question 9

At what age does the cervical lordosis appear?

Answer 9

6-9 months

Question 10

Does the spinal nerves of the cervical vertebrae usually travel anterior or posterior to the facet joints?

Answer 10

Anterior, except in C1 and C2 where it passes posterior

Question 11

What is the function of the atlas?

Answer 11

“Washer” - allows free movement of the skull on the axis

Question 12

What is the name of the fascia that surround all the structures of the neck?

Answer 12

The investing layer

Question 12

What structure on the skull does the atlas articulate with?

Answer 12

Occipital condyles

Question 14

How do the spinous processes of the cervical vertebrae differ from other vertebrae?

Answer 14

They bificate at the end

Question 15

What runs in the posterior triangle?

Answer 15

Veins, nerves and arteries for the upper limb

Question 16

What can happen to the anterior cartilages of the neck with age?

Answer 16

They can ossify

Question 17

Where is the facet for the dens located on the atlas?

Answer 17

Anterior arch

Question 17

Which transverse foramen doesn’t the vertebral arteries run in?

Answer 17

C7

Question 17

What type of injury are facet joints particularly susceptible to?

Answer 17

Hyperextension

Question 18

What is the name of the fascia that surround the vessels and nerves in the neck?

Answer 18

The carotid sheath

Question 19

How many joints are there between the atlas and axis?

Answer 19

3 - One median pivot joint between dens and ant arch of atlas - Two lateral facet joints

Question 20

Where does the anterior atlanto-occipital membrane sit?

Answer 20

Ant aspect of the vertebral bodies

Question 21

What is the name of the fascia that surrounds the trachea and viscera of the neck?

Answer 21

The pretracheal layer

Question 23

What makes the scalenus anterior a key landmark in the neck?

Answer 23

The brachial plexus, subclavian artery and phrenic nerve run between the scalenus anterior and medius

Question 24

Do the spinal nerves of the cervical spine exit superior or inferior to the transverse processes?

Answer 24

Superiorly

Question 24

Which nerve innervates the facet joints?

Answer 24

Posterior rami

Question 26

Which cervical vertebrae are considered typical?

Answer 26

C3-C6

Question 27

What do cervical ribs form from?

Answer 27

Extension of the anterior tubercle of C7

Question 28

What is the function of the alar ligament?

Answer 28

Stops the range of rotation of the atlas around the dens

Question 30

Where does the scalenus anterior insert onto the cervical vertebrae?

Answer 30

The anterior tubercle

Question 32

What are the uncinate processes of the vertebral bodies?

Answer 32

Hook like process that extend from the lateral edges of the body upwards.

Question 33

What does the transverse ligament do?

Answer 33

Prevents dens retracting posteriorly into the vertebral canal

Question 35

T/F the articular surfaces of the vertebrae are at 45º angle

Answer 35

True

Question 37

Why does pus, blood and infectious materal run up and down in the neck and not laterally?

Answer 37

Because the fascia layers prevent that

Question 38

Why are the prevertebral (anterior vertebral) muscles important?

Answer 38

Surgents must cut past them during surgery to gain access to the spine

Question 39

What is the major problem with a cervical disc prolapse?

Answer 39

Impinging on the spinal cord

Question 41

What do you call it when the 12th rib articulates with L1 instead of T12?

Answer 41

Caudal shift

Question 42

What can occur in the cervical vertebrae with age?

Answer 42

Osteophytic outgrowths between body and transverse processes that impinge on spinal nerves

Question 44

Why are cervical ribs clinically important?

Answer 44

They can cause entrapment of vessels and nerves running through it, particularly the brachial plexus

Question 45

What happens as the intervertebral disc start to decrease in size with age?

Answer 45

Osteophytes can connect vertebral body

Question 46

What are the lateral vertebral muscles called?

Answer 46

Anterior, medius and posterior scalenus

Question 47

Why is the anterior tubercle of C6 sometime called the carotid tubercle?

Answer 47

Because it may impinge on the carotid

Question 48

Which comes first when going down the cervical spine, the atlas or the axis?

Answer 48

Atlas

Question 49

Which cervical vertebrae has the longest transverse process

Answer 49

The atlas

Question 50

What is the shape of the cervical spine?

Answer 50

There is a convex lordosis (facing anteriorly) which is called the cervical lordosis