-L-04-Cervical-Spine

Question 1

Cervical Spine
Q: What are the functions of the vertebral column?
Q: What are the primary and secondary curvatures of the spine?

Answer 1

A: Protection, movement, support, shock absorption, and attachment for ribs.

A:

Primary: Thoracic and pelvic (present from fetal life).
Secondary: Cervical (develops when the baby lifts its head), Lumbar (develops when the child starts walking).

Question 2

Q: Which vertebrae are considered typical cervical vertebrae?
Q: What are the atypical cervical vertebrae?
Q: What is unique about the Atlas (C1)?

Answer 2

A: C3, C4, C5, C6.
A: C1 (Atlas), C2 (Axis), C7 (Vertebra Prominens).

A:

No body.
No spinous process.
Large vertebral canal.
Superior articular facets form a cup for the occipital bone.

Question 3

Q: What is unique about the Axis (C2)?
Q: What is unique about C7 (Vertebra Prominens)?

Answer 3

A: Has the odontoid process (dens), which allows rotation of the Atlas.
A:
Long, thick, prominent spinous process.
Nearly horizontal direction.
Not bifid.

Question 4

Q: What are the joints of the cervical spine?

Answer 4

A:
-Atlanto-occipital joint – between
the occipital bone and Atlas,
allows nodding.
-Atlanto-axial joint – between Atlas
and Axis, allows rotation.
-Intervertebral joints – between
vertebral bodies and facets

Question 5

Q: What are the types of movement of the head and spine?

Answer 5

A:

Nodding – at the Atlanto-occipital joint.
Shaking (Rotation) – at the Atlanto-axial joint

Question 6

Q: What are the palpable landmarks of the cervical spine?

Answer 6

A:
C1: Base of nose and hard palate.
C2: Teeth (when the mouth is
closed).
C3: Mandible and hyoid bone.
C4-C5: Thyroid cartilage.
C6-C7: Cricoid cartilage