Bones and Ligaments of neck

Question 1

What do spinal nerves emerge through?

Answer 1

intervertebral foramen

Question 2

where does the spinal cord pass though?

Answer 2

vertebral canal in center of body

Question 3

special name for C1?

Answer 3

atlas

Question 4

special name for C2?

Answer 4

axis

Question 5

what are the cervical vertebra?

Answer 5

C1-C7 (remember that there are 8 cervical nerves though)

Question 6

verterbral body, transverse process and spinous processes are locatied where?

Answer 6

vertebral body= anterior
transverse processes= lateral
spinal processes= posteriorly

Question 7

define facet joint

Answer 7

between articular processes

**where the inferior articular process and superior articular process of adjacent vertebra articulate

Question 8

4 things that make C1 (atlas) unique?

Answer 8

1) has tubercles instead of a body and spinous processes
2) large articular facets to contact occipital condyles of cranium
3) transverse foramen with transverse process that allows vertebral artery to pass
4) LARGE vertebral foramen

Question 9

Where does C1 have tubercles?

Answer 9

anterior and posterior tuberlces as well as an anterior and posterior arch

Question 10

what makes C2 (axis) unique?

Answer 10

1) dens (odontoid process)

2) transverse foramina is a shallow devit, no longer a hole like on C1

Question 11

define bifid spinous processes

Answer 11

• more common in white males
• UNIQUE, not typical
• means that are two points to spinous process instead of one

Question 12

vertebral arch is made up of?

Answer 12

lamina and pedicle

Question 13

define uncinate process

Answer 13

on either side of body, like a lip

*helps provide more stability because their bodies are so small

Question 14

what is another name for C7? why?

Answer 14

vertebral pominens

*bc its the first one you can feel on your neck

Question 15

what makes C7 (vertebral prominens) unique?

Answer 15

similar to thoracic vertebra

• long spinous process, nearing the giraffe shape found in thoracic vertebra
• called vertebral pominens bc its the first one you can feel on your neck

Question 16

Explain the erlationship between transverse foramen and arteries on C7?

Answer 16

Vertebral artery does not pass through transverse process; vertebral artery skips over C7 and enters the transverse foramina at C6, and go up through C1
**emissary veins DO pass through the transverse process of C7

Question 17

Why is knowing how the vertebra line up correctly matter to dentist?

Answer 17

important for location and angle of mandible; possible how it affects mastication and breathing
**important for orthodontics

Question 18

intervertebral joint

Answer 18

where the intervertebral discs are

Question 19

What joint is unique to cervical vertebra?

Answer 19

Uncovertebral joint

Question 20

What is the joint between cranium and C1?

Answer 20

Atlanta-occipital joint =

Question 21

What is the joint between C1 and C2?

Answer 21

Lateral atlanto-axial joint

Question 22

define Uncovertebral joint

Answer 22

joint is unique to cervical vertebra

**Between uncinate process of the bottom vertebra and the vertebral body above that

Question 23

atlanto-axial and Atlanta-occipital joint do what specifically

Answer 23

give stabolization to the cranium and vertebral columne

Question 24

What type of joints are atlanto-axial and Atlanta-occipital joints?

Answer 24

Fecet joints (just like the others); we just give them fancy names

Question 25

what are joint capsules? Examples?

Answer 25

they are facet joints but have special names because of location

1) Between cranium and C1 = atlantooccipital joint capsule
2) Between C1 and C2 = atlantoaxial joint capsule

Question 26

Posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL)

Answer 26

behind vertebral column

Question 27

anterior longitudinal ligaments (ALL)

Answer 27

runs along anterior part of vertebral column

Question 28

What is a continuation of PLL? How is it connected?

Answer 28

tectorial ligaments (membrane)
*as the PLL passes over the dens, its becomes the tectorial ligament; it will eventually attach to the clivis

Question 29

define nuchal ligament

Answer 29

attachment of all deep muscles & trapezius

• it is ALL of the overlying ligamentous tissue
• very broad for muscle attachment

Question 30

there is no _____ ligament in cervical region?

Answer 30

supraspinous ligament

Question 31

describe ligamentum flavum

Answer 31

yellow portion

• high elastic tissue content
• anterior interspinous liagament

Question 32

location interspinous liagament?

Answer 32

between the spines of vertebra and overly ligamentum flavum (posterior)

Question 33

purpose of alar ligament? location?

Answer 33

limit rotation of cranium on dens

• prevents over-rotation
• keeps the dens tight, stable
• starts at tip of dens and goes to sides of foramen magnum

Question 34

purpose of cruciform ligament of atlas? loaction? Names of 2 parts?

Answer 34

stabilizes the atlanto-axial joint
keeps dens in place, allow rotation
maintain communication b/w C2 and cranium
**two parts that make a cross
1) longitudinal fascicles (up and down aka vertical)
2) transverse ligament of atlas (side to side aka horizontal)