Cervical Spine Flashcards
How does the cervical spine differ from infancy to adulthood?
in infancy = neck is kyphotic/primary curvature
in adulthood = lordotic/secondary curvature
What are the distinguishing parts of the cervical vertebrae?
cervical vertebra have
- foramen transversarium - holes that allow blood supply to brain
- triangular vertebral canal
- spinous processes are short and bifid (except the 7th cervical vertebra- which is very long and not bifid)
what are the joints between vertebrae?
intervertebral discs- secondary cartilaginous
superior articular facet/inferior articular facet = facet joints = synovial
which cervical vertebrae are ‘typical’
C3,4,5,6 are typical
Describe the first cervical vertebrae
C1 = ‘atlas’ which supports the ‘globe’ of the head - it doesn’t have a body at all, it has an anterior neural arch and a posterior tubercle - it has fairly substantial transverse parts - which articulate with the occipital condyle -
Describe the 2nd cerivcal vertebrae
the ‘dens’ is actuallly acting as the ‘body’ of C1 but it is actually attached to the second cervical vertebrae - you also have foramina transversarium as well for the arteries - The den’s is held in position by ‘the most important ligament in the body’ which is the transverse ligament of atlas
what is the transverse ligament of atlas (or cruciate ligament)
the most important ligament in the body
- it holds the ‘dens’ in the place, keeping it from sitting on the spinal cord -
if this ligament snaps (particularly in the elderly) - it could compress the cord and the lower part of the brain stem - this is fatal if it happens.
*note it’s actually cruciate in shape, but the vertical portion of it isn’t very important other than to restrict the motion of your head*
what ligaments prevent your head movement from left to right?
the alar ligaments - the vertical portion of the ‘cruciate ligament’ which is combined with the transverse ligament of atlas
describe the ligaments of the vertebral colummn
- anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments (posterior does not attach to the body of the vertebra, but anterior does)
- ligamenta flava - elastic yellow ligament (not complete, it only attaches from between each of the vertebrae- it’s elastic so when you lift yourself back up, it helps to pull you back into upright
- interspinous ligament - between each spine
- supraspinous ligament - between each spine
- between supraspinous ligament and vertebrae in the cervical spine it thickens as the ligamentum nuchae - fills in the curvature of your neck
Whey does the posterior longitudinal ligmament not attach tot he body of the vertebrae?
becuase the body of the vertebrae produces blood this needs to leave the body of the vertebrae through vessels - if the posterior was fused to the body, there would be no space for these vessels to exit the body
what are the three layers of tissue that cover the nervous system?
meninge
- Dura, arachnoid, and Pia
Pia is directly adherent to the surface of the spinal cord - continues all the way down to the coxcyx
where does the spinal cord end on an adult?
L1- L2
Where does the spinal cord end on a child?
L3-L4
where does the subarachanoid space end on an adult?
S2 - important if you’re sampling for fluid b/c there is no spinal cord at this level, but there is cerebral fluid. t
Note however that babies can get meningitus- and their spinal cord ends very low, so you have to be sure to go low enough
there are how many cervical vertebrae? How many cervical nerves?
7 cervical vertebrae
8 cervical nerves
*the first cervical nerve comes out above the cervical vertebrae- 8th nerve comes out below C7)