Lecture 8/9 Spine Anatomy Flashcards
Exam 2
Which portion of the spinal cord is wider?
The top of the cord is wider than the bottom because the cord is larger at the neck than lower back, so less info is sent through the lower part of the cord
The C-spine has a ______ spinous process
Bifid
- C2-C5 is bifid
- C6 is bifid half the time
- C7 has a single spinous process
The C-spine vertebrae have extra openings or foremen called ______. What are they for?
Transverse foramen - run vertebral arteries (2/4 blood supplies for brain/brain stem)
What 3 things are different about the vertebra of the C-spine?
Transverse foramen, bifid spinous process, and the atlas (C1)/ axis (C2)
Transverse foramen are located where?
C1-C7
The spinal nerves in the neck are located in the ______ of the transverse process
Spinal nerve sulcus
The _____ is the connection between the skull and C1
atlas
The _____ is the connection between the C1 and C2
axis
What is C1 named after?
Named from the mythical god that had the weight of the world on his shoulders
The biggest difference between Atlas and the other neck vertebra is that there is
no vertebral body on C1 - doesn’t have a lot of weight that it supports so doesn’t need bulky body
What is the structure on C1 that is there instead of the vertebral body?
Anterior arch
What does the anterior arch do?
Allows rotational axis between C1 and C2; how C1 and C2 fit together
What are the specialized structures on the anterior arch of C1? What do they do?
Anterior tubercle - front nub
Facet for dens - posterior joint/cartilage where C2 articulates with C1
What does C1 have instead of a spinous process?
posterior tubercle
What is different about C1 than the other neck vertebrae?
Anterior arch instead of vertebral body
Posterior tubercle instead of a spinous process
Which structures does the base of the skull sit in?
Superior articular facets/processes
What is the opening of the base of the skull? What is it for?
Foramen magnum - where the spinal cord comes out and neck ligaments
What are the 2 projections on the skull that fit into C1?
Occipital condyles - fit into superior articular facets of C1
Which ligaments connect the top of the spine in the opening of the foramen magnum?
Atlantooccipital Ligaments - anterior and posterior
How are Atlantooccipital ligaments named?
Ligament connects to the occipital bone in the skull and the other part of the ligament connects to C1 (atlas) in the arch
What allows us to nod our heads yes?
Occipital condyles from the skull sitting in superior articular processes of C1
- pivot point
What is the structure on C2 that isn’t found anywhere else? What is its function?
Dens - bony projection on posterior C2
Connection point for the rear or anterior arch of C1
Which structure on C2 rubs up against the anterior arch of C1?
Anterior articular facet - cartilage coating on dens
Differentiate between the roles of the anterior and posterior articular facets of C2
Anterior - cartilage on dens that rubs against the anterior arch of C1
Posterior - cartilage on dens where ligaments wrap around at the top of the neck and make sure it’s a solid connection