Cervical Vertebrae (notes are needed)

Question 1

what are the functions of cervical vertebrae

Answer 1

Provide attachment sites for muscles
Protects the nervous system via the vertebral canal and intervertebral foramen
Ligaments and intervertebral discs prevent hyper extension and hyper flexion of the head

Question 2

what does flexion mean

Answer 2

forward bending of neck

Question 3

what does extension mean

Answer 3

back bending of neck

Question 4

what are the four regions of vertebrae

Answer 4

cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral

Question 5

what is a kyphotic curve

Answer 5

convex curve in spine

Question 6

what does the vertebral foramen house

Answer 6

spinal chord and the dens

Question 7

what is the The atlanto-occipital joint

Answer 7

connects the atlas to the occipital bone of the skull

Question 8

what articulates with occipital condyles

Answer 8

superior articular surface of lateral masses on atlas

Question 9

what does inferior articular surface of lateral mass on atlas articulate with

Answer 9

superior articular surface of lateral masses on axis

Question 10

what is the dens

Answer 10

a superior projecting bony element from C2
the pivot around which the atlas and head rotate.

Question 11

what articulates with the dens

Answer 11

Posterior surface of anterior arch of atlas

Question 12

describe the annulus fibrosus

Answer 12

• Equalises pressure across the disc preventing
  stress points
• Fibrocartilaginous material
• 50-60% collagen

Question 13

what is a lordotic curve

Answer 13

concave (rounded inwards) curve in spine
normal curve

Question 14

what is the axis responsible for

Answer 14

50% of lateral neck movement

Question 15

what passes through through the transverse foramen

Answer 15

vertebral artery, sympathetic nerve plexus and vertebral venous plexus.

Question 16

what is the Ligamenta flava

Answer 16

Passes between each lamina of adjacent vertebrae and Resists separation of the lamina

Question 17

how many cervical vertebrae are there

Answer 17

7

Question 18

where is the brachial plexus

Answer 18

C5-T1

Question 19

what is the Ligamentum nuchae

Answer 19

Supports the head, resists excessive flexion and gravity -
returns the head to the anatomical position
runs from C7 to skull

Question 20

what is the Supraspinous Ligament

Answer 20

Connects the tips of spinous processes from C7 to L3 and L4

Question 21

what are the Vertebral articulations

Answer 21

4 synovial joints (two above and two below – bilateral superior and
inferior)
2 symphyses (one above and one below)

Question 22

what are the Interspinous ligaments

Answer 22

Connect the facing edges of consecutive spinous processes
* Attach from the base of each spinous process to blend with the
supraspinous ligament posteriorly and the ligament flava anteriorly
on each side

Question 23

what are the Intertransverse ligaments

Answer 23

Pass between adjacent transverse processes
* Help prevent excessive lateral movements

Question 24

what is the atlas responsible for

Answer 24

50% of neck flexion and extension

Question 25

what are the two regions within a vertebral disc

Answer 25

Nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus (discus)

Question 26

describe the Nucleus pulposus

Answer 26

• gel-like mass in center of disk under pressure
  such that it preloads disk
• 80-90% water, 15-20% collagen
• absorbs compression forces between vertebrae

Question 27

describe the synovial joints between vertebrae

Answer 27

Exist between articular processes of 2 vertebrae (superior and inferior)

The articulating surfaces are covered in hyaline cartilage and carried on articular processes

The fibrous capsule is thin and loose and attached peripherally to
the articulate facets of adjacent articular processes

Question 28

describe the symphyses between vertebrae

Answer 28

• Exist between vertebral bodies
• Fibrocartilaginous fusion
• Formed by an intervertebral disc and a layer of hyaline cartilage
• Allows limited movement and regarded as amphiarthrosis

Question 29

what do all cervical vertebrae have (apart from C1)

Answer 29

a body, two pedicles, two laminae, superior and inferior articular facets, one spinous and two transverse processes.

Question 30

where is the cervical plexus

Answer 30

C1-C4

Question 31

what does the cervical plexus do

Answer 31

provides motor
innervation to some muscles of the neck, and the diaphragm
provides sensory innervation to
parts of the head, neck, and chest.

Question 32

what is the Anterior/posterior Longitudinal Ligament

Answer 32

Runs the entire length of the spine from the occipital bone to the sacrum.
It connects the anterior/posterior of the vertebral body to the annulus fibrosis

Question 33

what is the brachial plexus

Answer 33

the network of nerves
that sends signals from the spinal cord to the
shoulder, arm and hand

Question 34

what ligament connects adjacet vertebral laminae

Answer 34

flava

Question 35

where does the spinal nerve emerge

Answer 35

between the pedicle of asjacent vertebra