Cervical Spine Flashcards
How many vertebrae in the Cervical Region?
7
What are the names of C1 and C2?
Atlas (C1), Axis (C2)
What structure does Vertebral Artery travel through?
Transverse Processes of Spine
What structures do nerve roots travel through?
Intervertebral foramen
What is the Craniovertebral Region made up of?
Cranium, C1 and C2
What are the names of the two major ligaments in our skull region?
Alar ligament and Transverse Atlantal Ligament
Where does Alar Ligament attach?
Arises from sides of odontoid process (dens) and it passes laterally to attach to occiput
What does the Alar ligament prevent?
Flexion and rotation
Roles of Transverse Atlantal Ligament
Keeps the dens in contact with the anterior arch of the atlas and keeps dens away from the spinal cord
What would happen with a Transverse Atlantal Ligament sprain?
Dens could migrate posteriorly within the central foramen and could impinge spinal cord
What are the 4 parts of the Vertebral Artery?
- Proximal
- Transverse
- Suboccipital
- Intracranial
What part of the vertebral artery is more susceptible to injury?
Laterally bending/ continuous bending. It has two 90 degree bends due to C1 being so much further so large ROM, already under stress from the weaving, rotation causes pinching
Where does proximal vertebral artery start and enter?
It runs off the origin of the artery (subclavian) and travels up entering at approximately C6
Where is the point of entry for the transverse vertebral artery?
Point of entry from C6 and runs to C2. This is the straight vertical part of the artery.
Where does the suboccipital vertebral artery run?
Runs from the transverse foramen of C2 to point of penetration in the foramen magnum to enter brian.
Where does the Intracranial vertebral artery run?
Penetration of dura mater at the level of the foramen magnum to the lower border of the pons.
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency Internal Causes
Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis
What is thrombosis?
Thrombosis is a blood clot where we have occlusion of the artery
What is atherosclerosis?
Fatty deposit within the artery causing a slight blockage of blood flow; limits blood flow due to less surface area
What portions of the vertebral artery are more commonly affected by vertebrobasilar insufficiency internal cause?
Proximal and Transverse
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency External Cause: Dissection.
Tearing of the artery
What does a vertebral artery dissection consist of?
Tearing of tunica intima which decreases lumen size and we get less blood flow and blood fills between the inner and outer layer of the artery instead. (can lead to blood clot)
What can happen with dissection and cervical instability?
instability can disrupt ligaments causing larger ROM that is unfavourable
What happens if the alar ligament is ruptured?
we get a 30% increase in rotation causing a dramatic strain on artery with increased rotation
Vertebral Artery Dissection- what motions would be dangerous in this case?
Flexion and extension of neck, need to avoid aggressive rotation when treating C1, C2 injury
Subjective Assessment for Vertebral Artery Dissection
- dizziness, virtual disturbances, paraesthesia, motor disturbance, deafness, swallowing, tinnitus,
What would you observe if someone had vertebral artery dissection?
- slurred speech, ataxic gait
What ligaments would you assess for Craniovertebral Stability?
Alar ligament, Transverse Ligament
–> test if they are stretched
Vertebral Artery Testing?
test by rotation, rotation and extension, (not done in clinics anymore)
Neck Region Red Flag Screening: Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency
5D’s and 3N’s
- dizziness,
- diplopia (double vision)
- dysphagia (trouble swallowing)
- dysarthria (trouble speaking)
- drop attacks (fainting spells)
- nausea
- numbness (mostly around mouth)
- nystagmus (uncontrolled eye movements)
12 cranial nerves:
I: Olfactory II: Optic III: Oculomotor IV: Trochlear V: Trigeminal (V1, V2, V3) VI: Abducens VII: Facial VIII: Vestibulocochlear (auditory) IX: Glossopharyngeal X: Vagus XI: spinal accessory nerve XII: Hypoglossal
Cranial Nerve I: Olfactory; sensory, motor or both? testing?
Sensory: smell
Test: close a nostril and ask if they can smell something; alcohol, coffee grinds, etc
Cranial Nerve II: Optic; sensory, motor or both? testing?
Sensory: vision
Test: eye test/exam, see how far they can see, peripheral vision, examine expansive visual field
Cranial Nerve III: Oculomotor
Motor: movements of the eyes, pupil dilation
Test: superior, inferior, medial, superolateral, pupillary reaction to light
Cranial Nerve IV: Trochlear; sensory, motor or both? testing?
Motor: controls eye movement of ONE eye muscle- superior oblique
Test: inferomedial; look towards nose
Cranial Nerve V: Trigeminal VI; sensory, motor or both?
Both
V1- opthalmic; sensation to the forehead
Cranial Nerve V: Trigeminal V2; sensory, motor or both?
Both
V2: maxillary
Sensation to upper lip
Cranial Nerve V: Trigeminal V3; sensory, motor or both?
Both
V3: mandibular
Sensory to chin