L3.1 - Cervical Spine & Neck

Question 1

The uncinate process articulates with the IVD above it to form

Answer 1

The joints of Lukscha aka uncovertebral joints

Question 2

Whats special about the articular processes of cervical vertebra?

Answer 2

Sloped 45 degrees - allowing flex/ex, rotation, side bending

Question 3

IVD of cervical vertebra are higher ant than post, leading to?

Answer 3

Cervical lordosis

Question 4

*Comparing C7 to typical cervical vertebra?

Answer 4

It has a long spinous process (non-bifid). Articular facets not sloping but are in coronal plane

Question 5

C2s distinctive feature

Answer 5

Odontoid process aka dens, forming pivot/axis where it sits inside C1, allow it to rotate (moving skull with it when it rotates)

Question 6

IVD forms what type of joints?

Answer 6

Symphyses

Question 7

*Compare thoracic and cervical IVD

Answer 7

Nucleus pulposus is more central in cervical IVD, posterior in thoracic.

Nerve root leaves above IVD in thoracic
Nerve root leaves central to IVD in cervical

Question 8

Where is hyoid bone found?

Answer 8

In front of C3, doesn’t articulate with any other bones - larynx & trachea suspended off it

Question 9

What structures could a cervical rib compromise

Answer 9

Elevate brachial plexus, subclavian artery (affect hands)

Question 10

*9 Ligaments of cervical spine

Answer 10

ALL, PLL, Ligamentum nuchae, ant.post atlanto-occipital membrane, tectorial membrane, transverse lig. of atlas cruciform ligament, alar ligament, apical ligament

Question 11

*Ligamentum flavum

Answer 11

They connect the laminae of adjacent vertebrae, all the way from the second vertebra, axis, to the first segment of the sacrum.

Question 12

*What forms the ant, post atlanto-occipital membrane?

Answer 12

Ant - ALL runs up till ant. tubercle of the arch of C1 and forms a membrane that attaches to C1 and runs up till the occiput

Post - Lig. flavum continues up till C1, from there, there’s another membrane on the post arch of C1 to the occiput

Question 13

*What ligament holds dens against anterior arch so that it doesnt fall posteriorly and compress the spinal cord?”

Answer 13

Transverse ligament of atlas -cruciform ligament

Question 14

*What ligament attaches to either side of dens and runs up, attaching to inside of occiput?

Answer 14

Ala ligament - limits amount of rotation occuring

Question 15

*How is the tectorial membrane formed?

Answer 15

PLL stops at C2 and spreads out to form it, where it attaches to inside of the skull

Question 16

*CERVICAL FASCIA: superficial layer

Answer 16

Subcutaneous: contains fat, lymph, subcutaneous nerves, platysma

Question 17

*CERVICAL FASCIA: deep layer

Answer 17

Investing: Trapezius and SCM
Prevertebral: runs around muscle acting on vertebra of spine
Pretracheal: surrunds oseophagus, trachea, thyroid gland
Carotid sheath: runs around internal and common carotid, internal jugular vein, vagus nerve

Question 18

Platysma is innervated by

Answer 18

CN7

Question 19

Superficial neck muscles (in investing deep cervical fascia layer)

Answer 19

SCM (ant) - right SCM turns head left. Both sides contract = neck flexion

Trapezius (post) - move neck (side bend, extension of neck)

Question 20

Anterior strap muscles

Answer 20

Supra and infrahyoid muscles involved in swallowing

Question 21

Longus calli attaches to

Answer 21

Vertebra

Question 22

Longus capitis attaches to

Answer 22

skull

Question 23

Scalene (laterally) attaches to

Answer 23

Trans pro of cervical vertebra down onto first and second ribs

Question 24

3 parts of scalene

Answer 24

Ant, medius, post

Question 25

What is in b/n scalene ant and medius? If that structure is compressed, what could it lead to clinically?

Answer 25

Trunk of brachial plexus and subclavian artery -> could lead to thoracic outlet syndrome if compressed

Question 26

Postvertebral muscles are

Answer 26

Splenus capitis(means head) and cervicis (means neck) -> bandage over errector spinae muscles of neck

Question 27

List the suboccipital muscles. Where do they act on?

Answer 27

Rectus capitis posterior minor (c1 to occiput) and major (c2 to occiput)

Obliqus capitis inferior and superior

Act on atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial joints

Question 28

What comes out of the suboccipital triangle?

Answer 28

Posterior ramus of C1 aka suboccipital nerve (supplies suboccipital muscle but no C1 dermatome innervation)