Cervical Flashcards
Components of a typical cervical vertebrae -
Small vertebral body
Transverse foramen
Vertebral foramen (large)
Bifid spinous process
Lamina
Pedicles
Uncinate process
Anterior and posterior tubercles on transverse process - allow for muscle attachment
Articular pillar
Why is C1 atypical?
Aka….
Atlas
No vertebral body
Facet for the dens
Large facets for occipital condyles
Anterior and posterior tubercles (arch)
Impressions for alar ligaments
Ring shaped for occiput
2 lateral facets
Transverse process and transverse foramen x2
Why is C2 atypical?
Aka…
Axis
Has the dens/odontoid peg (articulates with dens facet on atlas)
2 lateral articular facets
Transverse processes and foramen x2
Bifid spinous process
Vertebrae prominens -
C7
Spinous process is longer and more prominent
Not really Bifid either
Has a transverse foramen but the vertebral artery does not run through it.
Primary function of cervical spine -
Provide mobility, support and protection of spinal canal and neural structures
Allow outlets for peripheral nerves
Components of cervical spine:
7 vertebrae
6 intervertebral discs ( attached by hyaline endplates )
8 pairs of exiting nerve roots
Cervical lordosis between occiput (C0)-C7 averages 40 degrees
Most of the lordosis occurs at the C1-C2 segment
C1 nerve emerges between -
Nerves C2-7 emerge -
C8 nerve emerges between -
C1 - emerges between skull and C1 vertebrae
C2-7 - emerge superior to pedicles
C8 - emerges inferior to predicable of C7 verbtebra
Cervical spine anatomy
Where does most of flex/ext motion occur?
And rotation?
Main role of C2-7 -
50% flex/ext occurs at occiput (C0-C1)
Approx 50% rotation occurs C1-C2
C2-7 therefore provide more stability
Uncovertebral joints -
Only in cervical
Aka Hubert von Lushka
Synovial plane joint
Provides stability
Atlanto-occipital joint -
C0-C1
Synovial ellipsoid joint
Articular surfaces
C0- occipital condyles (convex)
C1- superior articular facet on the atlas (concave)
Atlanto-axial joint aspects -
C1-C2
Has a median joint
Has lateral joints
Instability can occur at both med and lateral… fractures, congenital disorders (eg. Down syndrome) or inflammatory disorders
Median Atlanta-axial joint -
Synovial pivot joint
Articular surfaces -
Convex rectangular facet on the front of the dens
Concave facet inner aspect of the anterior arch of the atlas
Post. Surface of the dens articulates with the transverse ligament
Lateral Atlanta-axial joint -
Synovial plane joint
Articular surfaces -
Two concave inferior facets of the atlas articulate with the two convex superior facets of the axis
