Cervical Spine Anatomy-Lecture Flashcards
1
Q
Features of a typical cervical vertebrae
A
- small but wide oval body with uncinate process
- may have bifid spinous process (more common in caucasian)
- foramen transversarium in transverse process
- large triangular vertebral foramen
- artic process face A/P
2
Q
Motions of cervical vertebrae
A
- The Vertebrae are capable of performing all six motions in space
- Fryette’s law of cervical spine biomechanics – side bending and rotation occur to the same side.
- C0-C1 (OA) – 10 to 15 degrees of flex/ext, 8 – lateral flex, minimal rotation
- C1-C2 (AA)– 10 degrees flex/ext, 45 degrees of rotation, little lateral flexion
- C3-C7 – 64 degrees of flexion, 24 degrees of extension, 40 degrees of lateral flexion, 40 degrees of rotation
3
Q
C1- Atlas
A
- A ring-like bone with no body, but 2 lateral masses. Note the angles of the articular surfaces
- An anterior and a posterior arch each with a tubercle
- Transverse processes with transverse foramina
4
Q
C2- Axis
A
- Most prominent feature is the odontoid process (dens) that is formed by tissue that would have been the body of C1
- Small body
- Very short spinous process
5
Q
C7- Vertebra prominens
A
- Resembles a thoracic vertebra with a long spinous process
6
Q
Joints of the vertebral column
A
- ATLANTO-OCCIPITAL
- 2 synovial joints between the occipital bone of the skull and the atlas (C1)
- ATLANTO-AXIAL
- 3 synovial joints between the atlas and the axis (C2)
- INTERVETEBRAL JOINTS
- Symphysis joints between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae
- Zygopophyseal joints –synovial joints between the superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae
7
Q
Atlanto-occipital & Lateral Atlanto-axial Joints
A
- ATLANTO-OCCIPITAL:
- BETWEEN THE SUPERIOR ARTICULAR FACETS AND THE OCCIPITAL CONDYLES
- LATERAL ATLANTO-AXIAL:
- BETWEEN THE INFERIOR ARTICULAR FACET OF THE ATLAS AND THE SUPERIOR ARTICULAR FACET OF THE AXIS
8
Q
Central Atlanto-axial Joint
A
- BETWEEN THE ODONTOID PROCESS OF THE AXIS AND THE ANTERIOR ARCH OF THE ATLAS
- Alar ligament and Apical ligament –
- secondary stabilizer C1-C2
- Tranverse ligament –
- Retains odontoid process of C2 in place against anterior arch of atlas
9
Q
Ligaments of the
Atlanto-occipital & Atlanto-axial Joints
A
- Resists hyperflexion, posterior disk protrusion – Tectorial membrane (upper cervical)
10
Q
Intervertebral Disc- Annulus fibrosis
A
- outer layer of obliquely oriented layers of fibrous tissue connecting the compact bone of two adjacent vertebrae
- inner layer of fibrocartilage attaching to the articular surfaces of the adjacent vertebrae
11
Q
Intervertebral disc- NUCLEUS PULPOSUS
A
- a highly hydrated gelatinous connective tissue. In children it is formed by the remnants of the notochord, but in adults it is replaced by cartilaginous tissue.
12
Q
Fluid shifts in IV discs
A
- The intervertebral disk is a hydrostatic system that is resilient under pressure.
- The annulus fibrosis prevents fluid from escaping laterally, but its oblique fibers allow compression and expansion.
- The nucleus pulposus is 80-85% water. Under transient pressure it resists compression.
- When sustained pressure is applied to the disk (red arrows) the water is slowly forced out of the disk into the marrow cavities of the vertebral bodies.
- When the pressure is reduced, the water returns to the disk.
- During the day, the weight of the upper body causes a 1.5-2 cm loss of height due to water loss from the disks.
13
Q
Herniation of the Intervertebral Disk
A
- Weakness of the annulus fibrosis can lead to herniation of the nucleus pulposus.
- The most common sites are posteriorly, or posteriolaterally.
- A posterior herniation will press directly on the spinal cord, while a posteriolateral herniation will press on the root of a spinal nerve.
14
Q
ZYGOPOPHYSEAL JOINTS
A
- PLANE TYPE SYNOVIAL JOINTS BETWEEN THE SUPERIOR AND INFERIOR ARTICULAR PROCESSES OF ADJACENT VERTEBRAE
15
Q
ARTHRITIS OF THE VERTEBRAE
A
- Osteoarthritis can cause bony growths (osteophytes) to form on the vertebrae. These can limit motion and cause pressure on the spinal nerves as they travel through the intervertebral foramina.
