Craniovertebral Joints Flashcards
Atlas/Axis
Which supports the skull
Atlas
Atlas/Axis
Which has no body or no spinous process
Atlas
Atlas/Axis
Which has large lateral facets?
Atlas
Atlas/Axis
Which has large foramen transversum?
Atlas
Atlas/Axis
Which has dens on superior surface?
Axis
Atlas/Axis
Which has a bifid spinous process?
Axis
What are the 2 main craniovertebral joints
atlanto occipital joint
atlanto axial joint
Both the craniovertebral joints (atlanto occipital and atlanto axial) are ___ joints
synovial
Atlanto occipital joint movement:
“YES”
and tilts head laterally from side to side
Atlanto occipital joint is articulation between __ and __
occipital condyles and C1 facets
Atlanto occipital joint is ___ synovial joint
condyloid synovial joint
Altanto occipital joint range of motion is ____
flexion and extension
Atlanto axial joint movement:
“NO”
Atlanto axial joint is ___ synovial joit
pivot synovial joint
Atlanto axial range of motion is ____
rotation
supplies 50% of cervical rotation
The periosteal dura mater lines ___ and is continuous with ___
lines the cranial vailt
continuos with the spinal column
The tectorial membrane is __ to the dura
deep
Tectorial membrane is the superior extension of ____
posterior longitudinal ligament
The superior extension of the posterior longitudinal ligament is the ____
tectorial membrane
What is found deep to the tectorial membrane?
deep ligaments and craniovertebral joints
What are the two membranes associated with the atlanto-occipital joint?
anterior atlanto-occipital membrane
posterior atlanto-occipital membrane
Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane is the superior extent of ____
anterior longitudinal ligament
Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane attaches to the _____
base of the occipital bone and the margin of foramen magnum
Anterior altanto-occipital membrane covers what part of the atlas?
covers the anterior arch of the atlas INFERIORLY
Posterior atlanto occipital membrane is a superior extent of ____
ligamentum flavum
What are ligamentum flavum?
fill the gaps between posterior vertebral arches
Superior extension of ligamentum flavum is ____
posterior atlanto-occipital membrane
What are the 4 deep ligaments of craniovertebral joint?
1 transverse ligament of atlas
2 cruciate ligament (cruciform ligament)
3 alar (check) ligament
4 apical ligament of dens
Transverse ligament of atlas holds __ to __
holds dens of axis (C2) tightly to the anterior arch of atlas (C1)
What shape is the transverse ligament of atlas?
bow shaped
If the dens is fractured, where would the fracture be and why?
the fracture would be at the base because the transverse ligament of the atlas holds dens so tightly to the anterior arch of C1
This fracture will likely not repair, but it is not fatal unless severs spinal cord
What are the components to the cruciate ligament?
superior longitudinal band
inferior longitudinal band
transverse ligament of atlas
What are the 2 “bands” in the cruciate (cruciform) ligament?
superior longitudinal band
inferior longitudinal band
Both of the bands in the cruciate ligament are __ oriented
vertically
The superior longitudinal band attaches to ___
the foramen magnum
traverses superiorly from the transverse ligament of the atlas
the inferior longitudinal band attaches to ___
the dens of C2 posteriorly
traverses inferiorly from the transverse ligament of the atlas
Why is the cruciate ligament called the cruciate/cruciform ligament?
the 2 “bands” or “crura” + the transverse ligament of the atlas = a cross (crucifix)
What are the paired, “check” ligaments of the craniovertebral joints?
alar ligaments (check ligaments)
The alar (check) ligaments extend from __ to __
from dens to medial portions of occipital condyles
What do the alar ligaments “check”?
check lateral rotation of skull/head
owls don’t have this
Describe the apical ligament of the dens
slender band ascending from the apex of the dens
The apical ligament of the dens attaches to ____
anterior margin of foramen magnum
Apical ligament of dens is located deep to ____ (another ligament)
superior longitudinal band of the cruciate ligament
What is the main vein found in the craniovertebral region?
internal jugular vein
internal jugular vein emerges from ___
jugular formamen
What is the main artery found in the craniovertebral region?
internal carotid artery
Internal carotid artery enters ___
carotid canal
The sympathetic trunk (in the craniovertebral region) gives rise to the ___
internal carotid plexus
The internal carotid plexus comes from ___
sympathetic trunk
What main Cranial Nerves are found in the craniovertebral region?
7, 9, 10, 11, 12
CN 7 emerges from ___
stylomastoid foramen
CN 9 emerges from ____
jugular foramen
CN 10 emerges from ___
juuglar foramen
CN 11 emerges from ____
jugular foramen
CN 12 emerges from ___
hypoglossal canal
What are the 3 structures associated with the craniovertebral region?
pharynx
carotid sheath
sympathetic trunk
The pharynx, carotid sheath, sympathetic.
How are these all related to hte vertebrae?
pharynx, carotid sheath and sympathetic trunk are all prevertebral
Pharynx hangs off of the ___
pharyngeal tubercle at base of the skull
Pharynx is continuous with the ___
oral cavity
Carotid sheath is ___ to the pharynx
lateral and posterolateral
Sympathetic trunk is ___ to carotid sheath
posteromedial
What are the main ganglia at the base of the skull?
CN 9 inferior/superior ganglia
CN 10 inferior/superior ganglia
Sympathetic trunk gives superior cervical ganglia
CN 9 and 10 each have superior/inferior ganglia. These are ___ ganglia within __ foramen.
sympathetic ganglia
each within jugular foramen
Sympathetic trunk gives rise to ___
superior cervical ganglia
Superior cervical ganglia sends off ___
internal carotid plexus
Internal carotid plexus rides along ___
internal carotid artery
Cn 9 travels with what muscle ___
stylopharyngeus muscle
CN 9 travels bertween __ and __
ICA and ECA
CN 9 runs on the __ aspect of the stylopharyngeus muscle
lateral
CN 9 innervates what muscle
stylopharyngeus
Cn 9 descneds the back of ___
pharynx and tongue
CN 10 immediately splits into
pharyngeal nerve
superior laryngeal nerve
pharyngeal nerve is a branch off of __
CN 10
superior laryngeal nerve is a branch off of __
CN 10
Pharyngeal nerve emerges ~__cm inferior to skull base
2
Pharyngeal nerve travels between __ and __ to innervate __
ICA and ECA
to innervate pharynx
Superior laryngeal nerve arises __ to pharyngeal nerve
inferior
What makes up the pharyngeal plexus of nerves?
union of pharyngeal branches of CN 9 adn CN 10
What does CN 9 contribute to the pharyngeal plexus of nerves?
primarily contributes sensory fibers
and motor innervation to stylopharyngeus m
What does CN 10 contribute to the pharyngeal plexus of nerves?
supplies most of the motor innervation to pharyngeal muscles
also supplies parasympathetics
Where do the sympathetics in the pharyngeal plexus of nerves come from?
superior cervical ganglion
CN 11 runs immediately lateral to ___
CN 10
CN 11 runs immediately __ to CN 10
lateral
As CN 11 descends, it travels through ICA, ECA, which makes it appear that ____
CN 10 is beneath the carotid sheath
but really CN 10 is within the carotid sheath
CN 11 supplies ___
trapezius m and SCM m
CN 12 runs __ within the __ triangle
inferiorly within the subamndibular triangle
CN 12 supplies the muscles of the __
tongue
While removing the head, we use the __ joints, and sever all ____
use the craniovertebral joints
sever all ligaments
While removing the head, we use the ___ as a long plane for separation. Why?
Retropharyngeal space
Because it is full of loose fibrous connective tissue which is easy to rip
Retropharyngeal space is between __ fascia and __ fascia
buccopharyngeal and alar
Retropharyngeal space runs from __ to __
base of skull to superior mediastinum
Retropharyngeal space is easily accessed posterior to ___
carotid sheaths
Cervical nerves in craniovertebral region C1-C4 form:
cervical plexus
Cervical plexus is made up of what cervical levels?
C1-C4
Where is cervical plexus found?
C1-C4
found posterior to longus capitis/colli m
Cervical nerves in craniovertebral region C3-C4 make up:
phrenic nerve
Phrenic nerve is made up of what cervical levels?
C3-5
Where is phrenic nerve found?
descends anteriorly across anterior scalene muscle
Cervical nerves in craniovertebral region C5-8 make up:
brachila plexus
Brachial plexus is made up of what cervical nerves?
C5-8
Brachial plexus runs between __ and __
anterior scalene muscle and middle scalene muscle
Vertebral arteries arise from __
subclavian artery
Vertebral veins drain into __
brachiocephalic vein
Vertebral aa and vv are located __ to cervical spinal nerves
anteiror
vertebral aa and vv both enter __ from what vertebral level?
transverse foramina of C6 and above
What are the 2 pharyngeal plexus of veins?
INTERNAL plexus
EXTERNAL plexus
Where is the internal pharyngeal plexus of veins found?
between pharyngobasilar fascia and constrictor mm
Where is the external pharyngeal plexus of veins found?
outside of pharygobasilar fascia