Cervical and Thoracic Spine Flashcards
Why is neck pain more common that lower back pain as we get older?
Cervical spine = mobile
Thoracic spine = immobile
Therefore, neck pain with age is more common
What are the main characteristics of the cervical vertebrae?
- Form skeleton of the neck
- Bifid spinous process (except C7)
- Transverse foramen in transverse process (= foramen transversarium)
- Large triangular vertebral foramen
- Body is small and broad from side to side
What passes through the foramen transversarium?
- Conduit for vertebral artery and vein (not C7)
- Accessory vertebral vein = C7
Describe the articulations of Atlas
- Occiput of skull superiorly (atlanto-occipital joint)
- Axis (C2) inferiorly
Describe the key features of Atlas
- No vertebral body (body is fused with axis to form dens or odontoid process)
- No spinous process
- Widest of cervical vertebra
- Vertebral arches are thick and strong
Describe the key features of the second vertebral body
- Axis
- Strongest and largest of cervical vertebrae
- Odontoid process/dens
- Rugged lateral mass
- Large spinous process
Which structures prevent displacement of atlas?
Dens and transverse ligament
Describe the key features of the seventh cervical vertebra
- Most prominent spinous process
- Longest spinous process
- Spinous process is not bifid
- Transverse process is large but the foramen transversarium is small and only transmits the accessory and vertebral veins
What is the nuchal ligament?
- Thickening of the supraspinous ligament
Attached to:
- External occipital protuberance
- Spinous processes of all cervical vertebrae
- Spinous process of C7
What is the function of the ligamentum nuchae?
- Maintains the secondary curvature of the cervical spine
- Helps the cervical spine support the head
- Major site of attachment of neck and trunk muscles (E.g. trapezius, rhomboids)
Describe the key features of the thoracic vertebrae
- Demi-facets on sides of body for articulation with head of rib (T2-T8); whole facets T9-10
- Costal facets on transverse processes for articulation with tubercle of rib (except T11 and 12)
- Vertebral foramen is small and circular
What is the function of the anterior cord?
- Sensory and motor
- Light touch, pinprick and pain
What is the function of the posterior cord (dorsal columns)
- Vibration and proprioception (joint position sense)
Which tracts move what in the body?
More central tracts move the arms and more lateral tracts move the legs
What is a neural level?
- Last functioning level below an injury with both sensory and motor power
