Cervical Spine Anatomy

Question 1

Parts of Cervical Spine

Answer 1

Occipital Condyles
Spinous Processes
Transverse Processes
Posterion/Anterior Arch of C1
Dens of C2
Facet joints
Lanimae, Pedicles, Vertebral Bodies

Question 2

Uncovertebral Joint

Answer 2

• Synovial Compartment
• Reinforces the posterolateral aspect of the disc
• Reduces sidebending in the cervical spine
• Guides flexion and extension

Question 3

Intervertebral Formina

Answer 3

Anterior Wall
--both vertebral bodies of motion segment, disc
Posterior Wall
--Facet Joints
Superior, inferior walls
--pedicles

Question 4

Upper Cervical Spine

Answer 4

Lateral Mass

Occipital Condyles-Convex

Question 5

Flexion

Answer 5

45-50
stretched Ligamentum Nuchae
Compressed annulus fibrosis

Question 6

Extension

Answer 6

85’

stretches anterionr longitudinal ligament

Question 7

Atlanto-axial joint complex

Answer 7

’

Question 8

Atlanto-occipital joint-Flexion

Answer 8

Occipital bone (convex) rolls forward and slides backwards on the concave Atlas

Question 9

Atlantoaxial joint complex B

Answer 9

’

Question 10

Sidebending

Answer 10

40’

Question 11

Rotation Atlantoaxial joint complex

Answer 11

=

Question 12

Cervicocranial Joi nts

Answer 12

Alar Ligament
-connects dens to occiput
-Resists flexion, contralateral sidebending and rotation
Cruciform Ligament
-transverse portion limits anterior translation of C1 on C2

Question 13

Vertebral Artery

Answer 13

Winds through the

Question 14

Anterior Cervical Muscles

Answer 14

-Masseter
-Digastric muscles
-Sternocleidomastoid muscle
(sternal head and clavicular head)
-Scalene Muscles (anterior, Middle, Posterior)
-Levator Scapulae
-Trapezius Muscle

Question 15

Suboccipital Muscles

Answer 15

• Spmispinalis capitis
• Splenius capitis
• Obliquus Capitis Superior
• Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor
• Rectus Capitis Posterior Major
• Obliquus Capitus Inferior
• Semispinalis Cervicis
• Interspinales