Cervical Vertebral Column Flashcards
What movement does the Anterior Longitudinal Ligament resist?
Extension
What movement does the Posterior longitudinal ligament resist?
Flexion
What movement does the interspinouns ligaments resist?
Flexion
Posterior translation
What movement does the supraspinous ligament resist?
Flexion
What movement does the Ligamentum Flavum resist?
Flexion
Contralateral Lateral Flexion
What movement does the Transverse Ligament resist?
Holds dens in place
Resists anterior translation of C1 on C2
What movement does the Alar Ligament resist?
Flexion
Anterior translation and axial rotation of C1 on C2
What is the function of the superior and lateral costotransverse ligaments
stabilises the ribs
What is the function of the radiate ligament
Stabilise ribs to vertebral body
What does the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament continue as in the cervical spine?
Tectorial membrane
What does the ligamentum flavum continue as in the cervical spine?
Posterior atlantoaxial
Posterior atlanto-occipital membrane
What does the anterior longitudinal ligament continue as in the cervical spine?
Anterior atlantoaxial ligament
Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane
What are the features of C1 (atlas)?
no vertebral body
thick lateral masses that have concave superior articular surfaces to accommodate the occipital condyles
inferior articular surfaces = convex
superior articular surfaces sloped medially and downward overhang groove for vertebral artery posteriorly
posterior arch has broad groove for vertebral artery and suboccipital nerve and is larger than anterior
anterior tubercle has a facet on its posterior aspect for a synovial articulation with the dens
vertebral foramen is large
long transverse process with foramen (palpate behind angle of mandible)
no spinous process
What are the features of C2 (Axis)
odontoid process / dens with anterior and posterior articular facets for articulation with atlas
short transverse process with only one tubercle
superior articular facets convex
C2 nerve exits behind the C1/2 lateral atlantoaxial joint and does not groove the transverse process
C3 nerve exits via the C2/3 intervertebral foramen, anterior to the C2/3 zygapophyseal joint
Describe what is meant by “coupled movements”
when a primary movement in 1 plane
is accompanied by an automatic movement in another plane.
How does subaxial spine reflect coupled movement?
Axial rotation and lateral rotation are coupled movement
Inferior facets on side of lateral flexion slides inferiorly and posteriorly while the opposite side slides superiorly and anteriorly
Lateral flexion occurs in frontal plane while Axial rotation occurs in transverse plane
The facets are at 45 degrees,
Describe the alignment of the zygapophysial joints in relation to the transverse and coronal plane
they are aligned at 45 degrees to the transverse and coronal planes
How does zygapophysial joint alignment affect direction and range of movement in the subaxial cervical spine?
This alignment allows movements across 3 planes
Flexion-Extension in sagittal plane
Lateral flexion in frontal plane
Axial rotation in horizontal plane
The alignment of the cervical joint allows greater degree of axial rotation as compared to other regions like the lumbar spine.
How does intervertebral disc height : vertebral body height affect vertebral motion segment mobility in the cervical spine?
The disc height and vertebral body height affects the degree of contact of the joint.
The smaller the ratio, the more stable/less mobile the joint is.
What are uncinate processes?
Raised bony projections on the vertebral body that causes the superior surface of the vertebral body to be concave
What impact on movement do the uncinate processes cause?
during F-E, limit lateral translation
limit LF, extension, axial rotation
contribute to axial rotation & lateral flexion coupling
Why is the C2/C3 motion segment more stiff than the other segments?
C3 -transitional vertebrae
Superior facets are more vertical- not much rotation available
Limits flexion-extension range of motion that occurs as anterior and posterior translations are restricted
Which 2 ligaments provide crucial stability to the cervical spine?
Transverse and alar ligaments
What are the 3 synovial joints that make up the atlantoaxial joint?
1 median Atlantoaxial joint
2 lateral atlantoaxial joints
What are the articulating surfaces of the median atlantoaxial joint?
Dens
Osseo-ligamentous ring
= anterior arch of c1+ transverse ligament
What are the articulating surfaces of the lateral atlantoaxial joint?
convex articular facet of c1 and convex articular facet of c2
