Cervical Anatomy 3 Flashcards
What happens to the contact area of the facet joint during flexion?
- superior segment glides sup/ant on inf segment
- slides up and tilts slightly forward
- contact area of joint is decreased
What happens to the IVF diameter in flexion?
increased
clinical implication of decreased contact area with flexion
load is being supported on a smaller surface » increasing joint compression
What happens to the contact area of the facet joint during extension?
- superior segment glides inf/post
- contact is maximal and loadbearing
What happens to the IVF diameter in extension?
decreases
In the forward head position (FHP), the upper cervical spine is in a(n) (flexed/extended) position, while the lower cervical spine is in a(n) (flexed/extended) position.
- upper: extended
- lower: flexed
What happens to upper/lower regions with protraction?
- lower/mid flexes
- upper extends
During lateral flexion, the ipsilateral facets:
approximate
During lateral flexion, the contralateral facets:
distract
Describe ALL/PLL in c-spine
ALL: narrow
PLL: wide
Why is the PLL wider in c-spine than lumbar?
- PLL doing more in C-spine to keep head upright
- have more flexion in c-spine (stops when chin hits chest) and need more help to “check” it
- SC larger in C-spine, so PLL protects from posterior protrusions
Why does the ALL not need to be as strong as the PLL in the C-spine?
- spinous processes limit c-spine extension
- ALL doesn’t need to be as strong
B contraction of SCM causes these motions
- flexion
- protraction
SCM is mostly responsible for protraction in this position
standing
SCM contributes to this postural deviation
- FHP
- will get tight if someone maintains for a long time
B contraction of suboccipitals causes this motion
neck extension
function of suboccipitals
precise head control, have muscles supporting every plane
long cervical extensors
- splenius capitus, cervicis
- levator scapulae
What happens to suboccipitals in FHP?
- tight, hypertrophy
- don’t get a lot of circulation when contracted like that
- get trigger points
- more sensitive
T/F: C1 is palpable. If so, what part
- true
- can palpate transverse process (find mastoid then drop slightly down)
T/F: C2 is palpable. If so, what part?
- true
- spinous process (start at occipus then go straight down. First bump is C2)
What is the articular pillar?
- C3-C6
- consecutive sup/inf articular processes
- feels smooth because of ligaments, capsule, etc.
- may feel joint changes on older pts
A patient with an inflamed cervical nerve root on the right is likely to have pain with what motions?
- extension
- ipsilateral lateral flexion
- ipsilateral rotation
A patient with a large central disc protrusion in the cervical spine is likely to have what symptoms? (LE)
- spasticity
- hyperreflexia
A patient with a large central disc protrusion in the cervical spine is likely to have what symptoms? (UE)
- weakness
- atrophy
- fine motor control
- neck stiffness/pain
- upper quarter pain
- widespread numbness
- paresthesia in both arms/hands
A patient with a large central disc protrusion in the cervical spine is likely to have what symptoms? (advanced findings)
- paraparesis
- quadriparesis
- bowel/bladder changes
A patient with a large central disc protrusion in the cervical spine is likely to have what symptoms? (overall)
- bilateral
- UMN or LMN signs
- hypersensitivity
