Cirvical and Thoracic spine

Question 1

How many cervical vertebrae are there?

Answer 1

7

Question 2

How many thoracic vertebrae are there?

Answer 2

12

Question 3

Which of the two are mobile?

Answer 3

Cervical (thoracic has the ribs attached to them)

Question 4

What is the transverse foramen for?

Answer 4

Transmits the vertebral artery, vein and sympathetic nerve plexus

Question 5

What is unique about the transverse foramen of the C7?

Answer 5

only transmits vertebral vein

Question 6

What makes the Atlas (C1) vertebrae atypical?

Answer 6

-No vertebral body
-No spinous process
(widest cervical vertebrae)
(large transverse process)
(large superior articular process to attach with the skull)

Question 7

What makes the Axis (C2) atypical?

Answer 7

• Odontoid process/dens (used to be the vertical body of Atlas)
• broadest spinous process of cervical vertebra

Question 8

How does the Atlas (C1) and Axis (C2) articulate?

Answer 8

• Superior articular facet of the Axis and the Inferior articular facet of the Atlas
• Transverse ligament of the Atlas keeps the Odontoid peg from displacing

Question 9

What makes the C7 vertebra atypical?

Answer 9

• Vertebra prominens (longest spinous process)
• spinous process is NOT bifid
• Transverse process is large

Question 10

Describe the cervical nerve roots

Answer 10

• exit more horizontally
• nerve roots exit above their cervical body (except C8 = between C7 and T1)
• C1 doesn’t exit via a foramen

Question 11

What is the ligamentum nuchae?

Answer 11

-thickening of the supraspinous ligament

Question 12

Where does the ligamentum nuchae attach?

Answer 12

• external occipital protuberence

- spinous process of all cervical vertebrae

Question 13

What does the ligamentum nuchae do?

Answer 13

• helps the cervical spine support the head (not much muscle contraction needed otherwise would fatigue easily)
• maintains secondary curvature

Question 14

What are the movements of the cervical spine and where do they come from?

Answer 14

-Flexion and extension (50% from atlanto-occipital joint)
-Rotation (50% from atlanto-axial joint)
(other 50% is from the other cervical vertebrae)

Question 15

Describe the main key features of thoracic vertebrae

Answer 15

• Heart shaped vertebrae
• Demi-facets on the sides (T2-T8)
• Whole facets on the sdies (T9-T12)
• Vertebral body is small and circular

Question 16

Where are the two places where the rib articulates with the thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 16

1) Head of the rib with the vertebral body (demi-facets or whole facets)
2) Tubercle with the transverse process

Question 17

What movement does the facet joints in thoracic spine allow and what movement does it limit?

Answer 17

Permits rotation

Limits flexion

Question 18

What is atlantoaxial instability?

Answer 18

Excessive movement between the C1 and C2 vertebrae