Bones and joints of the neck Flashcards
Describe the bones and cartilages present in the anterior neck?
Hyoid bone
Thyroid cartilage
Cricoid cartilage
Tracheal cartilage
Describe the bones and cartilages present in the posterior neck?
Atlas (C1)
Axis (C2)
C3-7
What can happen to the cartilages in the neck with age?
Ossification
When are the bones and cartilages of the neck susceptible to injury?
Manual forces applied to neck
Manual strangulation
Describe the five neck regions?
1 Back of neck/vertebral region
2 Posterior triangle
3 Sternomastoid region
4 Anterior triangle
5 Root of the neck
What does the posterior triangle of the neck transmit?
Structures to the upper limb and back
What does the root of the neck transmit structures to?
Thorax
Where does the anterior triangle of the neck transmit structures to?
Head
Describe the shape of the cervical spine?
Why is it this shape?
Lordosis (inward curvature)
Due to shape and size of IV discs
Maintained by postvertebral muscles, which extend the head on the neck and extend the cervical spine
Describe a typical cervical vertebra?
Body
Transverse mass with anterior and posterior tubercles
Transverse foraminae (between anterior and posterior tubercles)
Bifid spinous process
Long spinous process
IV foramen
Unicnate process (C3-C6)
Articular surfaces oriented at 45 degress
Describe the purpose of bifid spinous processes in cervical vertebrae?
Increased surface area for several muscles and ligaments that attch at this location
How can vertebrae be counted externally?
Use C7 (vertebra prominens) as landmark
Describe the purpose of uncinate processes on C3-C6?
Keeps majority of movements in sagittal plane
Describe the lateral vertebral muscles?
SCALENES
Scalenus anterior, scalenus medius and scalenus posterior
Located deep to prevertebral fascia
Describe the attachments of the scalenus muscles?
Attach to transverse processes (anterior and posterior tubercles)
Describe the importance of scalenus anterior?
Key landmark in neck
Scalenus medius behind (arises from posterior tubercles)
Subclavian artery and brachail plexus lie between scalenus anterior in front and scalenus medius behind
Phrenic nerve sits on scalenus anterior
Where are the prevertebral muscles located?
Deep to prevertebral fascia
Describe some of the variations of the vertebral column that may occur?
Cranial or caudal shift > cervical or lumbar ribs