Cervical iRA/tRA

Question 1

What protects the vertebral artery?

Answer 1

foramen transversarium

Question 2

What is the shape of the cervical spinous process? Which ones are not this shape?

Answer 2

bifid spinous process

- except C6 and C7

Question 3

Which cervical vertebrae is the most prominent?

Answer 3

C7

Question 4

Where does the dens of C2 attach to C1?

Answer 4

posterior surface of anterior arch of C1

Question 5

What does the posterior arch of C1 contain?

Answer 5

• groove for vertebral artery

- posterior tubercle - attachment for ligamenta flava

Question 6

transverse processes of C1 and how do you palpate?

Answer 6

• longer than C2-C6

- palpable between mastoid process and ramus of mandible

Question 7

What is the axle for head rotation?

Answer 7

odontoid process (dens) of C2

Question 8

What are the stabilizing ligamentous structures of the dens?

Answer 8

• transverse ligament
• apical ligament
• alar ligaments

Question 9

In vertebral endplates, where is the hyaline cartilage? Where is the fibrocartilage?

Answer 9

Hyaline cartilage: toward vertebral body

Fibrocartilage: toward nucleus

Question 10

Vertebral endplates are ________ attached to vertebral bodies, ________ attached to IV disc

Answer 10

Weakly attached to vertebral bodies, strongly attached to IV disc

Question 11

What are the 3 primary functions of the cervical spine discs?

Answer 11

• allows motion to occur
• helps transmit forces
• attenuation (absorb energy) of forces

Question 12

Anterior annulus characteristics

Answer 12

• thick, strong

- lambdoid orientation, joining near midline of superior segment

Question 13

Posterior annulus characteristics

Answer 13

• thin
• longitudinal fibers
• transverse fissure - allows for swinging motion of cervical vertebral bodies

Question 14

What guides and limits movement of the spine?

Answer 14

zygapophysial joints

Question 15

What is highly innervated and helps transmit loads and protects articular cartilage in zygapophysial joints?

Answer 15

fibro-adipose meniscoid

Question 16

What are the joints between the uncinate process and superior segments vertebral body?

Answer 16

joints of luschka

Question 17

What motion occurs when suboccipitals are acting bilaterally?

Answer 17

extend the upper cervical spine

Question 18

What motion occurs when suboccipitals are acting unilaterally?

Answer 18

aid in rotation and/or lateral flexion

Question 19

Longus colli bilateral contraction motion and unilateral contraction motion

Answer 19

• bilateral - straightens cervical curvature and flexes neck

- unilateral - flexes and ipsilaterally flexes neck

Question 19

Longus colli bilateral contraction motion and unilateral contraction motion

Answer 19

• bilateral - straightens cervical curvature and flexes neck

- unilateral - flexes and ipsilaterally flexes neck

Question 20

What is the role of transverse ligament? Which segment protrudes superiorly and which protrudes inferiorly?

Answer 20

• retains dens against anterior arch of C1

superior - transverso-occipital
inferior - transverso-axial

Question 21

What is the role of alar ligaments? When are they taut?

Answer 21

• the role is to limit C1-C2 rotation

- taut with contralateral rotation (right taut with left rotation)

Question 22

What ligament blends with the anterior bodies and anulus?

Answer 22

anterior longitudinal ligament

Question 23

What ligament checks cervical flexion?

Answer 23

ligamenta flava

Question 24

Where do the roots and cords of the brachial plexus pass?

Answer 24

roots - pass between the anterior and middle scalene

cords - pass deep to clavicle and pec minor

Question 25

cervical flexion ROM

Answer 25

80-90

Question 26

cervical extension ROM

Answer 26

70

Question 27

cervical lateral flexion ROM

Answer 27

20-45

Question 28

cervical rotation ROM

Answer 28

70-90