Cervical And Thoracic Vertebrae

Question 1

Describe the lower cervical vertebrae (C3-C7)

Answer 1

Small body, forked

Spinous processes, the transverse processes have foramen for vertebral arteries and veins

Question 2

Describe the anatomy of C1 (Atlas)

Answer 2

No body, large vertebral foramen, articulates with the skull at occipital condyle.
The inferior articular facets articulate with C2 (axis)

Question 3

Describe anatomy of C2 (axis)

Answer 3

Has a ‘dens’ which projects into the vertebral foramen of the atlas and is held in place by the transverse ligament, damage to dens can cause fatal injury

Question 4

Describe the atlantaoccipital joint

Answer 4

Connects atlas-occipital

The occipital condyles of the skull sit on the articular fossa and allow for flexion and extension

Question 5

Describe the atlantoaxial joint

Answer 5

Connects atlas and axis

A highly moveable Trochoidal joint that allows rotation

Question 6

Describe the facet joints in the cervical region

Answer 6

Synovial plane joints
Superior facets up and back
Inferior facets downwards and forwards

Question 7

Describe the thoracic vertebrae

Answer 7

Heart shaped with medium sized body
Sharp, downward pointing spinous processes
Body have costal facets for rib articulation

Question 8

Describe how the ribs articulate with with the thoracic vertebrae

Answer 8

All the ribs articulate with 2 vertebral bodies apart from ribs 1,10,11,12 (own corresponding vertebrae only)
Synovial plane joints

7 attach direct to sternum, 3 to sternum via costal cartilage and 2 floating