Cervical vertebrae Flashcards
Where are the cervical vertebrae found?
Skeleton of neck
What is the relative size of the cervical vertebrae? Why?
Smallest vertebrae
bear less weight
What is the relative size of the vertebral body of the cervical vertebrae? Why?
Small
bear less weight
What are the distinctive features of the cervical vertebrae?
Large triangular vertebral foramen
Transverse foramen
Bifid spinous process
Superior articular facet faces upwards and posteriorly
Inferior articular facet faces downwards and anteriorly
Why is the vertebral foramen large in the cervical vertebrae?
To acommodate the enlargement of the spinal cord in the cervical region
What is a transverse foramen?
Hole in the transverse process
What runs in the transverse foramen? What is the exception? Why?
Vertebral arteries
Vertebral veins
C7 transverse foramen only carries vertebral vein
because it’s smaller
What is the signifiance of the articular facets being almost horizontal?
Permit a greater range of movement - flexion, extension, rotation
What is the C1 vertebrae called?
The atlas
What is the widest cervical vertebrae?
C1 atlas
How is the atlas an atypical bone?
Doesn’t have a vertebral body
Doesn’t have a spinous process
Has lateral masses
Why doesn’t the atlas have a vertebral body?
It’s body fused with the axis to form the odontoid process
What are the lateral masses?
Thickening of the vertebral arch
Where do the transverse processes arise from in the atlas?
From the lateral masses
What is the function of the lateral mass?
Bear weight of occipit of skull superiorly
Where are the superior and inferior articulating surfaces located in the atlas?
Superiorly and inferiorly to the lateral masses
What does the superior articulating surface of the atlas articulate with?
The occipital bone
What does the inferior articulating surface of the atlas articulate with?
C2 - axis
How else does the atlas articulate with the axis?
Has an articular facet
located posteriorly to the anterior tubercle
articulates with the odontoid process
What is the atlas basically made up of?
Anterior arch
Posterior arch
Lateral masses
What movement occurs at the anlanto-occipital joint?
Half of total flexion and extension
E.g. Nodding
What movement occurs at the Atlanta-axial joint?
Half of total rotation
E.g. Shaking the head
What are the other features of the atlas?
Anterior tubercle
Posterior tubercle
Tubercle for transverse ligament of atlas
Groove for vertebral artery
What is the C2 vertebra called?
The axis
What is the strongest cervical vertebra?
C2 - axis
How is the axis an atypical bone?
Odontoid process
Lateral masses
Largest spinous process
What is the odontoid process?
Projection of bone
From anterior axis
projects superiorly
Where does the dens lie in relation to the atlas?
Within the vertebral foramen of the atlas
How is the odontoid process held in position in the vertebral foramen of the atlas?
By the transverse ligament
runs behind the odontoid process
What are the functions of the dens and the transervse ligament?
Prevent anterior displacement of atlas
What is C7 often referred to? Why?
The vertebra prominents
because it has the longest and hence most prominent spinous process
How is C7 an atypical vertebrae?
Spinous process is not bifid
Large transverse process
Small transverse foramina
What is the additional ligament of the cervical vertebrae?
The nuschal ligament
What is the nuschal ligament essentially?
Thickening of supraspinous ligament
Where does the nuschael ligament originate?
External occipital protuberance
What does the nuschal ligament attach to?
Spinous processes
Where does the nuschal ligament insert?
Spinous process of C7
What are the functions of the nuschal ligament?
Maintains lordotic secondary curvature of cervical spine
Helps cervical spine support head
Major site of attachment of neck and trunk muscles e.g. trapezius, rhomboid minor
What are the movements of the cervical spine?
Flexion
Extension
Lateral flexion
Rotation
