Atypical Cervical Vertebrae: C7/Vertebra Prominens

Question 1

What names may be given to C7?

Answer 1

vertebra prominens or vertebral prominence

Question 2

What name is given only to C7?

Answer 2

Vertebra Prominens

Question 3

In what percent of men and of women does C7 become the vertebral prominence?

Answer 3

men: eighty-sex percent and women: seventy-nine percent

Question 4

What is the segment and gender bias for vertebrae other than C7 becoming the vertebral prominence?

Answer 4

C6 is more common in females and T1 is more common in males

Question 5

What joint surfaces are present at the inferior margin of the vertebral body of C7?

Answer 5

the anterior and posterior margins of the inferior epiphyseal rim, cancellous bone

Question 6

How many joint surfaces are present at the vertebral body of C7?

Answer 6

eight

Question 7

What joint classifications are observed at the vertebral body of C7?

Answer 7

fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis, cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis and modified synovial saddle (diarthrosis sellar) joint

Question 8

How many synovial joint surfaces are observed at the vertebral body of C7?

Answer 8

Two

Question 9

What muscle(s) attaches to the vertebral body of C7?

Answer 9

longus colli muscle

Question 10

What features are typically present in the transverse foramen of C7?

Answer 10

Vertebral venous plexus, postganglionic sympathetic motor fibers

Question 11

What muscles attach to the transverse process of C7?

Answer 11

middle scalene, iliocostalis thoracis, longissimus cervicis, semispinalis capitis, rotators, intertransversarii and levator costarum brevis

Question 12

What is the orientation of the superior articular facet of C7?

Answer 12

backward, upward, medial (BUM)

Question 13

What is the orientation of the inferior articular facet of C7?

Answer 13

forward, medial, downward (ForMeD)

Question 14

What muscles will attach to the articular process of C7?

Answer 14

longissimus cervicis, longissimus capitis, semispinalis cervicis and multifidis

Question 15

What muscles attach to the spinous process of C7?

Answer 15

trapezius, rhomboid minor, serratus posterior superior, spenius capitis, spinalis capitis, spinalis cervicis, semispinalis thoracis, multifidis, rotators and interspinalis

Question 16

What is the gender bias regarding size of the vertebral artery?

Answer 16

men have larger vertebral arteries than women

Question 17

What was the name of the physical exam used to determine vertebral artery patency?

Answer 17

the vertebrobasilar artery insufficiency test

Question 18

Which side artery was tested during the course of the vertbrobasilar artery insufficiency exam?

Answer 18

the ipsilateral artery on the side of rotation

Question 19

What are the symptoms of failure of the vertebral artery to compensate during the vertebrobasilar artery insufficiency exam?

Answer 19

dizziness, vertigo, nausea are common complaints

Question 20

The vertebral artery is typically a branch of which artery?

Answer 20

subclavian artery

Question 21

Typically, at what vertebral level will the vertebral artery first become located in the transverse foramen?

Answer 21

C6

Question 22

At what location will the vertebral artery form its first compensatory loop?

Answer 22

the atlanto-axial interspace

Question 23

At what location will the vertebral artery form its second compensatory loop?

Answer 23

the atlanto-occipital interspace

Question 24

At what segments will the vertebral artery be firmly attached to the transverse foramen?

Answer 24

both C1 and C2

Question 25

What is the purpose of the vertebral artery loops between C2,C1, and occiput?

Answer 25

the increased length will accommodate the greater rotation at these locations

Question 26

What happens to the vertebral artery as it enters the vertebral foramen of C1?

Answer 26

the adventitia of the artery blends with the dura mater and arachnoid mater; as a result the artery lies in the subarachnoid space

Question 27

What happens to the vertebral artery after it enters the subarachnoid space at C1?

Answer 27

the vertebral artery ascends along the medulla oblongata to the pontine-medullary junction where the right and left arteries unite to form the basilar artery

Question 28

What artery is formed by the union of the right and left vertebral arteries?

Answer 28

the basilar artery

Question 29

What forms the boundaries for the exit of C1` nerve from the spinal canal?

Answer 29

occipital condyle, superior articular process of C1, capsular ligament, arcuate rim, groove for the vertebral artery, posterior atlanto-occipital ligament

Question 30

What forms the boundaries for the exit of the C2 nerve from the spinal canal?

Answer 30

inferior articular process of C1, superior articular process of C2, capular ligament, inferior vertebral notch of C1, superior vertebral notch of C2, posterior arch of ?C1, lamina of C2, posterior atlanto-axial ligament

Question 31

What forms the anterior boundary for the C3-C7 nerve exit from the spinal canal?

Answer 31

the vertebral bodies, intervertebral disc, posterior longitudinal ligament, uncinated process, lateral groove.

Question 32

What forms the anterior boundary for the C8 nerve exit from the spinal canal?

Answer 32

the vertebral bodies of C7 and T1, intervertebral disc, posterior longitudinal ligament, capsular ligament of the costocentral joint, superior costal facet of T1 and articular surface of the first rib

Question 33

What are the superior articular facet orientations for the cervical vertebrae?

Answer 33

C1 is backward, upward, medial (BMD), C2 is backward, upward, lateral (BUL), C3-C7 is backward, upward, medial (BUM)

Question 34

What are the inferior articular facet orientations for the cervical vertebrae?

Answer 34

C1 is backward, downward, medial (BMD), C2-C6 is forward, downward, lateral (FoLD), C7 is forward, downward, and medial (ForMeD)

Question 35

How many synovial joints are identified for each cervical vertebra?

Answer 35

C1= five, C2=eight, C3-C6=eight, C7=six

Question 36

How many joints are identified at the vertebral body of each cervical vertebra?

Answer 36

C1=none, C2=ten, C3-C6=ten, C7=eight