Lecture 2 Osteology of Occiput, cervical and thoracic vertebrae

Question 1

Parts of the Occipital bone

Answer 1

3 main parts in relation to foramen
    - Basilar part
    - Lateral (condylar) part
    - Squamous part
Occipital condyle (facet for contact with C1)
Foramen Magnum
    - Spinal cord, meninges, vertebral arteries pass through
Alar tubercule

Question 2

Squamous bone markings

Answer 2

Highest (supreme) nuchal line
Superior nuchal line
      - attachments for trapezius, sternocleidomastoid and Splenius Capitus
Inferior nuchal line
     - Rectus capitus posterior (major and minor), obliquus capituus capitus superior
Medial nuchal line
      - Nuchal ligeament
External Occipital Protuberance
     - Trapezius, nucahl l.

Question 3

Cervical Vertebrae: Functional Groups & Movements

Answer 3

Suboccipital (C1-C2)
      - Rotation (C1-C2)
      - Flexion/extension (C0-C1)
     - Lateral Flexion (limited
Inferior (C3-C7)
      - Flexion
     - Lateral flexion coupled w/ rotation

Question 4

Typical cervical Vertebrae (C3 - C6)

Answer 4

• Triangular shaped vertebral foramen
• Bifid Spinous process
• Oval shaped vertebral artery

Question 5

Uncovertebral Joints

Answer 5

Made up of:

• semilunar facet (inferior aspect of vertebrae)
• uncinate process (superior aspect)

Saddle like joint (only in cervical region)

• limit lateral flexion
• Guide movement in flexion - extension

Question 6

Articular Processes in the cervical region

Answer 6

SAP - Flat and oval (Superior, posterior and slightly medial)
IAP - Flat and Oval (Inferior, anterior and slightly lateral

Question 7

Articular pillar (cervical region)

Answer 7

SAP -> Par interarticularis ->IAP
- arranged in a column

either one vertebrae or all cervical region

Question 8

Typical C. vertebrae: Tranverse Process

Answer 8

Characteristic feature: Bifid transerves Process

groove/gutter for spinal nerve between anterior/posterior tubercle

Question 9

Intervertebral foramen: Cervical region

Answer 9

Notches equal in size
direction - lateral, inferior and anterior
- arteries are anterior to nerve

Borders of IVF

• Intervertebral disc
• Adjacent vertebral bodies
• Uncovertebral joints
• Adjacent pedicles
• Zygapophyseal joint

Question 10

Atypical Cervical Vertebrae: Atlas

Answer 10

Lateral masses (weight bearing)
Anterior and posterior arch
Superior articular facet
Anterior tubercle (ligaments & longus colli)
Articular facet for dens
Inferior articular facets
Posterior tubercle ( small spinous process, rectus capitis posterior minor)

No body, lamina or pedicles

Question 11

Atypical cervical vertebra: Axis (C2)

Answer 11

Dens (articular facet, anterior side, meets atlas)
Superior articular facets (transverse plane)
Posterior articular facet of dens (transverse ligament of atlas)
Deeply bifid
Semilunar facets

NO uncinate process (no uncovertebral joint)

Question 12

Atypical cervical vertebrae: C7

Answer 12

Transition to thoracic (inferior articular facet close to thoracic)

• First and easiest to be palpated (Vertebrae promins
• not bifid
• Unicate process

No semilunar facets (no uncovertebral joint)

Question 13

Typical Thoracic Vertebrae

Answer 13

Circular vertebral foramen
Heart shaped Vertebral body
Superior articular facet (coronal plane, posterior)
Inferior articular facet (coronal plane, faces anteriorly
Superior/ Inferior costal demifacet
Transverse costal facet (tubercle of rib = costotransverse joint)
Spinous process (slopes inferiorly down 1-1.5 vertebrae)

Question 14

Thoracic vertebrae: IVF (intervertebral foramen

Answer 14

Orientated laterally
Inferior vertebral notch > than superior
Superior and inferior costal demifacet
Rib head (anterior to IVF)

Question 15

Atypical Thoracic Vertebrae: T1

Answer 15

Full superior costal facet for 1st rib
Inferior costal demifacet for 2nd rib
- body still resembles cervical vertebrae
Can sometimes act as vertebra prominens

Question 16

Atypical Thoracic Vertebrae: T9

Answer 16

May have an inferior demifacet (not common) probably will not have an inferior costal demifacet

would be 10th rib

Question 17

Atypical thoracic Vertebrae: T10

Answer 17

Full costal facet for 10th rib head

Question 18

Atypical thoracic Vertebrae: T11

Answer 18

Bigger to help support weight ( large like lumbar; less heart shaped and more kidney bean shaped)
No transverse costal facet, transverse process for 11th rib
- rib does not form costotransverse joint with T11
Spinous process is short, thick and rectacngular (lumbarish)

Question 19

Atypical Thoracic Vertebrae: T12

Answer 19

Body (large and lumbar-like)
Superior articular facet faces posterior (typical thoracic)
Inferior articular facet faces lateral (similar to lumbar)
Transverse process (small and stout)
- 3 elevations, Sup, lat and inf tubercles (lumbar)