Cervical Vertebra - Bony Features and Joints

Question 1

Features of typical cervical vertebra

Body, vertebral canal, SP, TP, SAP, IAP features

Answer 1

Body - Small, oval body with a uncinate process
Vertebral canal - Large, triangular
Spinous Process - Bifid
Transverse Process - Has a transverse foramen for vertebral artery. Has an anterior and posterior tubercle of transverse process
2x superior articular processes (with facets) which are angled posterior-superiorly
2x inferior articular processes angled anterio-inferiorly

Question 2

Which cervical vertebra are typical and which are atypical

Answer 2

Typical: C3-6
Atypical: C1 (Atlas), C2 (Axial), C7

Question 3

Features of Atlas

Answer 3

Atlas - C1 - Atypical
Articulates with occipital bone and C2
Has anterior/posterior arch
Anterior Arch - has anterior tubercle (articulates ith dens of C2)
Posterior Arch - has a groove for vertebral artery
TP - present, with foramina, but does not have anterior/posterior tubercle of transverse process like typical does
Body - missing (replaced by anterior tubercle)
SP - missing (replaced by posterior tubercle)
Has a lateral mass
- superiorly, has articular facet for occipital condyles
- inferiorly, has articular facets for Axis (C2)

Question 4

Features of Axis

Answer 4

Axis - C2 - Atypical
SP - not as obviously bifid
Body - has an elongated bone called the dens, which articulates with C1
Superior articular facet is more hozitonal (as opposed to posterior/superior in typical cervical vertebra)

Question 5

Features of C7

Answer 5

C7 - transitioning vertebra, has some thoracic like features
SP - not bifid, long like thoracic vertebra
Body - larger than typical Cx
Transverse foramen - vertebral artery doesn’t pass through

Question 6

Name the jonts found in Cx

Answer 6

Atlanto-occipital (OA) joint (C1 only)
Atlanto-axial joint (between C1 and C2 only)
Zygapophyseal joints (Starting between C2-C3)
Intervetebral joints (Starting between C2-C3)
Uncovertebral “joints” (joints of Von Luschka) (C3-6/7)

Question 7

Atlanto-occipital joint

bones, classification, movement, ligament

Answer 7

Bones - Occipital bone (occipital condyle) and C1 vertebra (superior articular facets on the lateral mass)
Classification - Synovial Condyloid
Movment - Flexion/extension, limited rotation
Ligaments - Anterior/posterior atlanto-occipital ligament

Question 8

Atlanto-axial joint

bones, classification, function, ligaments

Answer 8

Bones - Two different articulation sites
1. Dens of C2 and anterior arch of C1
2. Superior articular facet of C2 and inferior articular facet of C1
Classifications - for each articulation site
1. Synovial pivot
2. Synovial plane
Function - Rotation
Ligaments - Apical ligament, Alar Ligament, Cruciate Ligament, Tectorial membrane

Question 9

Uncovertebral “joints” (joints of Von Luschka) (C3-6/7)

Answer 9

Bones - Unicinate processes of inferior vertebra and body of superior vertebra
Type - Considered synovial but don’t contain have a complete joint capsule
Movement - Prevent excessive lateral flexion of the cervical spine (important)
Ligaments - none

Question 10

What is the nuchal ligament

Answer 10

Nuchal ligament
Extends from external occipital protuberance (EOP) to the SPs of the cervical vertebra
Strong band
Site of muscular attachment
It stops and interspinous ligament begins at c7 (stops before spinous processes get longer)

Question 11

Atlanto-occiptal ligaments

names, attachments, function

Answer 11

Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane
Extends from anterior arch of C1 to the anterior margin of the foramen magnum

Posterior atlanto-occipital membrane
Extends from posterior arch of C1 to the posterior margin of the foramen magnum

Both prevent excessive movement of the OA joint

Question 12

Name the ligaments supporting the Atlanto-axial joint

Answer 12

Apical ligament (1)
Alar ligaments (2)
Transverse ligament
Superior and inferior longitudinal
Transverse ligament + 2 x longitudinal bands= cruciate ligament
Tectoral membrane

Question 13

Apical ligament
(attachment and function)

Answer 13

Extends from tip of dens to the anterior margin of the foramen magnum
Does not contribute greatly to stability

Question 14

Alar ligament
(attachment and function)

Answer 14

Side of dens (C2) to lateral foramen magnum

Limits excessive rotation

Question 15

Transverse ligament
(attachment and function)

Answer 15

Between the medial aspects of the lateral masses (one on each side) of C1
Holds dens in place while head rotates

Question 16

Cruciate ligament

Answer 16

Made up of 3 (+1) ligaments
Posterior logitudinal ligament ends at C2
Inferior longitudinal band continues just above PLL
Transverese ligament continues from that
Superior logitudinal band continues from that to occipital bone

Question 17

Tectorial membrane

Answer 17

PLL stops at C2.

Tectorial membrane is a continuation of PLL, extending from the body to the inside of the skull.