Cervical iRA/tRA Flashcards
What protects the vertebral artery?
foramen transversarium
What is the shape of the cervical spinous process? Which ones are not this shape?
bifid spinous process
- except C6 and C7
Which cervical vertebrae is the most prominent?
C7
Where does the dens of C2 attach to C1?
posterior surface of anterior arch of C1
What does the posterior arch of C1 contain?
- groove for vertebral artery
- posterior tubercle - attachment for ligamenta flava
transverse processes of C1 and how do you palpate?
- longer than C2-C6
- palpable between mastoid process and ramus of mandible
What is the axle for head rotation?
odontoid process (dens) of C2
What are the stabilizing ligamentous structures of the dens?
- transverse ligament
- apical ligament
- alar ligaments
In vertebral endplates, where is the hyaline cartilage? Where is the fibrocartilage?
Hyaline cartilage: toward vertebral body
Fibrocartilage: toward nucleus
Vertebral endplates are ________ attached to vertebral bodies, ________ attached to IV disc
Weakly attached to vertebral bodies, strongly attached to IV disc
What are the 3 primary functions of the cervical spine discs?
- allows motion to occur
- helps transmit forces
- attenuation (absorb energy) of forces
Anterior annulus characteristics
- thick, strong
- lambdoid orientation, joining near midline of superior segment
Posterior annulus characteristics
- thin
- longitudinal fibers
- transverse fissure - allows for swinging motion of cervical vertebral bodies
What guides and limits movement of the spine?
zygapophysial joints
What is highly innervated and helps transmit loads and protects articular cartilage in zygapophysial joints?
fibro-adipose meniscoid
What are the joints between the uncinate process and superior segments vertebral body?
joints of luschka
What motion occurs when suboccipitals are acting bilaterally?
extend the upper cervical spine
What motion occurs when suboccipitals are acting unilaterally?
aid in rotation and/or lateral flexion
Longus colli bilateral contraction motion and unilateral contraction motion
- bilateral - straightens cervical curvature and flexes neck
- unilateral - flexes and ipsilaterally flexes neck
Longus colli bilateral contraction motion and unilateral contraction motion
- bilateral - straightens cervical curvature and flexes neck
- unilateral - flexes and ipsilaterally flexes neck
What is the role of transverse ligament? Which segment protrudes superiorly and which protrudes inferiorly?
- retains dens against anterior arch of C1
superior - transverso-occipital
inferior - transverso-axial
What is the role of alar ligaments? When are they taut?
- the role is to limit C1-C2 rotation
- taut with contralateral rotation (right taut with left rotation)
What ligament blends with the anterior bodies and anulus?
anterior longitudinal ligament
What ligament checks cervical flexion?
ligamenta flava
Where do the roots and cords of the brachial plexus pass?
roots - pass between the anterior and middle scalene
cords - pass deep to clavicle and pec minor
cervical flexion ROM
80-90
cervical extension ROM
70
cervical lateral flexion ROM
20-45
cervical rotation ROM
70-90
