Miscellaneous Cervical Spine Questions

Question 1

Which suboccipital muscles attach to C1?

Answer 1

Rectus capitus posterior minor, obliquus capitis superior, obliquus capitis inferior

Question 2

Which suboccipital muscles attach to C2?

Answer 2

Rectus capitis posterior major, obliquus capitis inferior

Question 3

What joint classifications are present at C1?

Answer 3

Synovial (diarthrosis) ellipsoidal, synovial pivot (diarthrosis trochoid), synovial plane (diarthrosis arthrodia) and fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis

Question 4

What joint classifications are present at C2?

Answer 4

Synovial pivot (diarthrosis trochoid), synovial plane (diarthrosis arthrodia), modified synovial saddle (diarthrosis sellar), fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis and cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis joint

Question 5

What joint classifications are present at each typical cervical?

Answer 5

Synovial plane (diarthrosis arthrodia), modified synovial saddle (diarthrosis sellar), fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis and cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis

Question 6

What joint classifications are present at C7?

Answer 6

Synovial plane (diarthrosis arthrodia), modified synovial saddle (diarthrosis sellar), fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis and cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis

Question 7

What forms the boundaries for the exit of the C1 nerve from the spinal canal?

Answer 7

Occipital condyle, superior articular process of C1, capsular ligament, arcuate rim, groove for the vertebral artery, posterior atlanto-occipital ligament

Question 8

What forms the boundaries for the exit of the C2 nerve from the spinal canal?

Answer 8

Inferior articular process of C1, superior articular process of C2, capsular ligament, inferior vertebral notch of C1, superior vertebral notch of C2, posterior arch of C1, lamina of C2, posterior atlanto-axial ligament

Question 9

What forms the anterior boundary for the C2 nerve exit from the spinal canal?

Answer 9

Inferior articular process of C1, superior articular process of C2, capsular ligament

Question 10

What forms the posterior boundary for the C2 nerve exit from the spinal canal?

Answer 10

The posterior arch of C1, lamina of C2 and posterior atlanto-axial ligament

Question 11

What forms the anterior boundary for the C3-C7 nerve exit from the spinal canal?

Answer 11

The vertebral bodies, intervertebral disc, posterior longitudinal ligament, uncinate process, lateral groove

Question 12

What forms the anterior boundary for the C8 nerve exit from the spinal canal?

Answer 12

The vertebral bodies of C7 and T1, intervertebral disc, PLL, capsular ligament of the costocentral joint, superior costal facet of T1 and articular surface of Rib 1

Question 13

What are the superior articular facet orientations for the cervical vertebrae?

Answer 13

C1 is backward, upward, medial (BUM); C2 is backward, upward, lateral (BUL); C3-C7 is backward, upward, medial (BUM)

Question 14

What are the inferior articular facet orientations for the cervical vertebrae?

Answer 14

C1 is backward, downward, medial (BMD); C2-C6 is forward, downward, lateral (FoLD); C7 is forward, downward, medial (ForMeD)

Question 15

How many synovial joints are identified for each cervical vertebra?

Answer 15

C1 = 5; C2-C6 = 8; C7 = 6

Question 16

How many joints are identified at the vertebral body for each cervical vertebra?

Answer 16

C1 = none; C2-C6 = 10; C7 = 8