Cartilage, Bone And Joints Of The Neck

Question 1

What is in the anterior of the neck?

Answer 1

Hyoid bone
Thyroid cartilage
Cricoid cartilage
Tracheal rings

Question 2

What is in the posterior of the neck?

Answer 2

Cervical spine

Question 3

What is unique about the hyoid bone?

Answer 3

Has no bony articulations and is stabilised by ligaments and muscles

Question 4

Role of hyoid

Answer 4

Suspends larynx, so tracheal rings and cartilage depend on it. Supports the floor of the mouth.

Question 5

Divisions of the hyoid bone

Answer 5

Upper and lower halves of the lesser and greater horns (cornua)
Also has a body which divides it into the upper and lower halves

Question 6

How many ossification centres does the hyoid bone have?

Answer 6

4

Question 7

Embryology of the hyoid bone

Answer 7

Upper half of body and lesser horn are derived from the 2nd branchial arch
Lower half of body and greater horn are derived from the 3rd branchial arch

Question 8

General ossification rule

Answer 8

Whenever there is a bone with a body, that is usually the primary ossification centre will be

Question 9

What attached to the hyoid?

Answer 9

Stylohyoid ligaments
Anterior muscles of the head and neck: tongue, pharynx and larynx, suprahyoid and infrahyoids

Question 10

Role of cervical spine

Answer 10

Connects head or rest of body
Supports weight of head

Question 11

What is clinical relevance of centre of gravity of head being more forward than the neck?

Answer 11

People faint forwards or fall asleep forwards

Question 12

What are typical and atypical vertebra?

Answer 12

Typical vertebra share anatomical features (4)
Atypical vertebra do not share anatomical features with other bones

Question 13

Distinguishing features of typical cervical vertebrae

Answer 13

Body - weight bearing part of spine
Transverse process and transverse foramen containing vertebral artery and sinovertebral nerve
Neural arch with lamina and pedicle
Vertebral arch
Articular facets - superior (facing backwards) and inferior (forwards) lined by hyaline cartilage
Bifid spinous processes due to strong attachment to nuchal ligament
Uncinate process

Question 14

How many ossification centres do vertebra have?

Answer 14

3 - one in body and one on each side of the neural arch

Question 15

Describe the atlas C1

Answer 15

Articulates with skull above forming atlanto-occipital joint (nodding yes movement)
Articles with axis below forming atlanto-axial joint (side to side no movement)
No body or spinous process
Widest cervical vertebra
Only 2 ossification centres - since there is no body
Body is fused with the dens of axis
Each neural arch is thick and strong to form a powerful lateral mass

Question 16

Describe the axis C2

Answer 16

Strongest cervical vertebra
Has odontoid process/dens
Largest spinous process
Rugged lateral mass
4 ossification centres - extra at dens
Dens prevents horizontal displacement of atlas

Question 17

Describe C7

Answer 17

Prominent spinous process and is not Bifid
Large transverse process - vertebral vein passes through instead of artery

Question 18

Cervical spine fractures

Answer 18

Burst (Jefferson fracture) - head fall first on - fracture of atlas
Hangman’s - hyperextension of the head on neck - fracture on axis

Question 19

Describe the structure of intervertebral discs

Answer 19

Nucleus pulposus in centre and annulus fibrosis on outside
Fibrocartilagenous joints
Thicker anteriorly and thinner posteriorly - wedge-shaped

Question 20

Where is there no intervertebral joint?

Answer 20

Between C1 and C2, since there is no body between them.

Question 21

What happens in a herniated disc?

Answer 21

Deterioration of the annulus fibrosis. When this happens the nucleus pulposus leaks out into the intervertebral foramen and compresses the nerve,

Question 22

What is the role of facet joints?

Answer 22

To limit movement of the vertebral column and give it stability

Question 23

What are the upper neck and lower neck facet /apophyseal joints?

Answer 23

Upper neck: atlanto-occipital joint (synovial) and atlanto-axial joint
Lower neck: joints between superior and inferior articular processes of the rest of the cervical spine (C3-C7)

Question 24

What type of joint is the Atlanto-occipital joint?

Answer 24

Condyloid joint because the condylar of the occipital articulates with the superior articular facet of atlas
Synovial joint - has joint capsule, synovial fluid, synovial membrane, articular surfaces covered by hyaline cartilage

Question 25

What type of joint is the atlanto-axial joint?

Answer 25

Pivot joint - centre of pivot forms by dense
Complex with 3 parts to the joint