Atypical Cervical Vertebrae: C2/Axis/Epistropheus

Question 1

What names are given to C2?

Answer 1

axis or epistropheus

Question 2

What unique vertebral body modification is characteristic of C2?

Answer 2

the dens or odontoid process

Question 3

How many joint surfaces are present on the odontoid process of C2?

Answer 3

five

Question 4

What joint surfaces are present on the odontoid process of C2?

Answer 4

• facet for fovea dentis
• groove for transverse atlantal ligament
• attachment sites for alar ligaments
• attachment site for the apical-dental ligament

Question 5

Which joint classifications are represented at the odontoid process of C2?

Answer 5

• fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis joint

- synovial pivot (diarthrosis trochoid) joint

Question 6

What is the name given to the odontoid process when the facet for the fovea dentis lies above the groove for the transverse atlantal ligament and the attachment sites for the apical-dental and alar ligaments appear to be directed posterior?

Answer 6

lordotic dens

Question 7

What is the name given to the odontoid process when the facet for the fovea dentis lies below the groove for the transverse atlantal ligament and the attachment sites for the apical-dental and alar ligaments appear to be directed anterior?

Answer 7

kyphotic dens

Question 8

What joint surfaces are present at the inferior part of the vertebral body of C2?

Answer 8

• anterior lip
• posterior lip
• right and left lateral grooves
• cancellous bone

Question 9

How many joints are formed by the inferior part of the vertebral body of C2?

Answer 9

five

Question 10

What joint classifications are present at the inferior part of the vertebral body of C2?

Answer 10

• fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis
• modified synovial saddle (diarthrosis sellar)
• cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis

Question 11

How many joint surfaces are present at the vertebral body of C2?

Answer 11

ten

Question 12

What joint classifications are present at the vertebral body of C2?

Answer 12

• fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis
• synovial pivot (diarthrosis trochoid)
• modified synovial saddle (diarthrosis sellar)
• cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis

Question 13

What ligaments will attach posteriorly, to the inferior epiphyseal rim of C2?

Answer 13

membrana tectoria and posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 14

What ligament will represent the cranial continuation of the posterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 14

membrana tectoria

Question 15

What ligament forms the anterior boundary for the spinal canal above C2?

Answer 15

membrana tectoria

Question 16

What ligament forms the anterior boundary for the spinal canal below C2?

Answer 16

posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 17

What lies on the upper surface of the pedicle of C2?

Answer 17

the superior articular process

Question 18

What is the location of the superior vertebral notch of C2?

Answer 18

on the lamina-pedicle junction

Question 19

What attaches to the lamina of C2?

Answer 19

• obliquus capitis inferior
• posterior atlanto-axial ligament
• ligamentum flavum

Question 20

What muscle attaches to the lamina of C2?

Answer 20

obliquus capitis inferior

Question 21

What is the outline of the vertebral foramen of C2?

Answer 21

oval to triangular

Question 22

What is the appearance of the superior articular facets of C2?

Answer 22

they are asymmetrical and slightly convex

Question 23

What is the facet orientation of the superior articular facet of C2?

Answer 23

backward, upward, and lateral (BUL)

Question 24

What is the orientation of the inferior articular facet of C2?

Answer 24

forward, lateral, and down (FoLD)

Question 25

What is the classification of the zygapophyseal joints of C2?

Answer 25

synovial plane (diarthrosis arthrodia) joint

Question 26

What muscle attaches to the articular processes of C2?

Answer 26

longissimus cervicis

Question 27

What osseous parts of the typical cervical transverse process are present at C2?

Answer 27

- costal element - posterior tubercle - true transverse process

Question 28

What osseous parts of the typical transverse process are absent at C2?

Answer 28

- anterior tubercle | - costotransverse bar

Question 29

What will be observed in the transverse foramen at C2?

Answer 29

- vertebral artery - vertebral venous plexus - postganglionic sympathetic motor nerve fibers

Question 30

What is the gender variation for the transverse diameter of C2?

Answer 30

- males: 57 mm | - females: about 50 mm

Question 31

What muscles attach to the transverse process at C2?

Answer 31

- levator scapulae - middle scalene - splenius cervicis - longissimus cervicis - intertransversarii

Question 32

Anterior and posterior intertransversarii are first observed at what vertebral couple?

Answer 32

C2 and C3

Question 33

What is the characteristic appearance of the C2 spinous process in humans?

Answer 33

bifid

Question 34

What is the location for palpation of the C2 spinous process of C2?

Answer 34

in the midline, about two inches below the external occipital protuberance

Question 35

What muscles attach to the spinous process of C2?

Answer 35

- rectus capitis posterior major - obliquus capitis inferior - spinalis cervicis - semispinalis cervicis - multifidis - rotators - interspinalis

Question 36

What ligaments attach to the spinous process of C2?

Answer 36

- ligamentum nuchae | - interspinous ligaments