Head and Neck 3 Flashcards
How many cervical vertebrae are there?
7
How many thoracic and lumbar vertebrae are there?
Thoracic = 12 Lumbar = 5
Describe a typical cervical vertebrae.
Body anteriorly placed, concave superiorly, convex inferiorly
Bifid spinal processes = short, attached to ligamentum nuchae
C7 = no bifid process, process is instead long
Vertebral canal: large and triangular
Transverse foramina (small or absent in C7), carry vertebral arteries (subclavian arteries)
What is the spinous process of C7 called?
Vertebra prominens
How is the atlas different?
No spinous processes
No body
Consists of two lateral masses connected by anterior and posterior arches
Anterior and posterior tubercle
What is the joint called joining C1 and the skull?
Atlanto-occipital joint
Superior articular facet receives occipital condyles of skull
Permit nodding of head
Describe the shape of the axis (C2)
Dens on anterior surface, projecting superiorly from body
What is the name of the joint between C1 and C2?
Atlanto-axial Joint
Permit side to side head movement
Dens acts as a pivot that allows skull and C1 as a unit to rotate on C2
What is the ligament called of the atlas?
Transverse ligament - strong band extending between medial surfaces of lateral masses
Holds the dens of C2 against the anterior arch of C1
Where does the cruciform ligament travel?
Vertically oriented superior and inferior bands from transverse ligament
Attach to occipital bone above and C2 below
Where does the alar ligaments travel?
Extend from sides of dens to lateral margins of foramen magnum
Check excessive rotation of the head and atlas relative to the axis
Name the primary and secondary curve and where they are found.
Primary curve: kyphosis (concave anteriorly) - thoracic region
Secondary curve: lordosis (convex anteriorly): cervical and lumbar regions
Where does the thyroid gland lie?
Deep to the strap muscles - sternohyoid and sternothyroid
Infront of C5-T1
What joins the two lobes of the thyroid gland?
Isthmus
What tracheal rings does the thyroid gland lie over?
2nd
3rd
4th
Where are the parathyroid glands found?
Posterior lobes of thyroid
Where do the parathyroid lobes develop from?
Superior develops from 4th pharyngeal pouch
Inferior develops from 3rd pharyngeal puch
Where does the external and recurrent laryngeal nerves lie?
In the gutter between the larynx/trachea and pharynx/oesophagus
What blood vessels supply the thyroid gland?
Superior thyroid artery from ECA (anterior branch)
Inferior thyroid artery from subclavian artery (branch of thyrocervical trunk)
Where does the external laryngeal nerve lie?
Just behind the superior thyroid artery at the upper pole of the lobe
What sometimes supplies the isthmus?
Thyroidea ima artery from brachiocephalic artery
What are the veins of the thyroid gland?
Superior thyroid gland drains superior part of gland and drains into IJV
Middle thyroid vein drains into IJV
Inferior thyroid vein drains into brachiocephalic vein
What are the levels of the phrenic nerve?
C3, C4, C5
Where does the phrenic nerve arise from?
Cervical plexus (C1-C4)