Cervical Spine Lect and Lab Flashcards
Functional Anatomic Components of C-Spine
- Osseous
- Ligamentous
- Muscular
- Fascial
- Neurologic
C- Spine Flexion
- 90 degrees
- Limited by the posterior longitudinal ligament
C- Spine Extension
- 70 degrees
- Limited by direct contact of vertebral lamina, zygapophyseal joints (facets), and spinous processes
C- Spine Rotation
- Approximately 50% of rotation in AA joint
- Approximately 50% rest of the cervical spine
Define Vertebral Unit
Two adjacent vertebral segments with their associated intervertebral disk, arthrodial, ligamentous, muscular, vascular, lymphatic and neural elements
Vertebra Unit Conventional Name
Named for superior vertebra in pair
Vertebral Unit Joint
Inferior facets of superior vertebra on superior facets of inferior vertebra
Vertebra Unit Motion Reference Point
Reference point is superior, anterior aspect of superior vertebra
2 Atypical C-Vertebrae
- Atlas (C1) - no body
- Axis (C2) - odontoid process (dens)
4 Typical C-Vertebrae
- C3 - C6
- Have uncovertebral joints both superiorly and inferiorly
Typical C-Vertebral Units
- C2-C7
- Primary Motion = Sidebending
- Always sidebend/rotate to same side
- Will have Flexion/Extension Component
Typical C-Spine Zygapophyseal Joint
- Joints oriented at a 45 degree angle toward the eye.
- Posterior is inferior
- Anterior is superior
- Lateral is superior
(look at ppt image)
Typical Cervical Vertebrae are Unique Because…
- Uncinate Process
- Transverse Foramen
- Large Vertebral Foramen
- Body is Convex inferiorly, Concave superiorly
Atlantoaxial Joint (AA) Properties
- Vertebral Unit of atlas (C1) on axis (C2)
- Embrylogically, Body of C1 was dens, now attached to C2 (can cause congenital malformations)
- Primary Motion = Rotation; accounts for 50% of entire neck rotation
- Strong ligamentous attachments limit motion and instability
Atlantoaxial Joint (AA) Ligaments
- Strong ligamentous attachments limit motion and instability
- Alar Ligament
- Cruciform Ligament
Alar Ligament
Attaches dens to occipital condyles
Occipitoatlantal (OA) Joint
= Occipital condyles articulating on C1
- Primary Motion = Flexion/Extension
- Sidebending/Rotation will ALWAYS be OPPOSITE
Occipitoatlantal (OA) Joint Properties
- Superior articulatory facet of C1 has anterior medial convergence.
- Posterior aspect of occipital condyles are more lateral
and superior. - Anterior aspect of occipital condyles are more medial and inferior
8 Ligaments of the C-Spine? Which are C-Spine only?
- Anterior longitudinal ligament
- Posterior longitudinal ligament
- Ligamentum flavum
- Interspinal ligament
- Intertransverse ligament
- Supraspinal ligament
- Nuchal Ligament
- Posterior atlanto-occipital membrane
C-Spine only?
- Nuchal Lig - C7 to greater Occipital ridge
- Posterior atlanto-occipital membrane
7 Anterior Muscles of the Anterior Deep Neck
- Rectus capitis lateralis -From TP of C1 to occiput
- Rectus capitis anterior -From LM of C1 to occiput
- Longus Capitis
- Longus Coli
- Anterior Scalene
- Middle Scalene
- Posterior Scalene
6 Posterior Muscles of the Deep Neck
- Rectus capitis posterior minor
- Rectus capitis posterior major
- Obliquus capitis superior
- Obliquus capitis inferior
- Interspinalis Cervecis
- Intertransversarii Cervicis
4 Deep Intrinsic MM of Posterior Neck
1 and 2. Semispinalis Cervicis and Capitis
- Multifidus (Terminates at CV2)
- Rotatores (Terminates at CV2)
3 Deep Intrinsic MM of Posterior Neck
1 and 2. Longissimus Cervicis and Capitis
3. Iliocostalis (Terminates at lower cervical vertebrae)