Revision - Different Regions of the Spine Flashcards
How many vertebrae does the cervical spine consist of?
7
What name is given to C1 and C2?
- C1 –> atlas
- C2 –> axis
What are the 3 main features that distinguish cervical vertebrae from other vertebrae?
- Triangular vertebral foramen.
- Bifid spinous process
- Transverse foramina – holes in the transverse processes.
What does the transverse formamina allow the passage of?
They give passage to the vertebral artery, vein and sympathetic nerves.
What does the ‘atlas’ articulate with?
The atlas is the first cervical vertebra and articulates superiorly with the occiput of the head and inferiorly with C2.
How does the ‘atlas’ differ from other cervical vertebrae?
- No vertebral body
- No spinous process.
- Has lateral masses which are connected by an anterior and posterior arch.
- Each lateral mass contains a superior articular facet (for articulation with occipital condyles), and an inferior articular facet (for articulation with C2).
- The anterior arch contains a facet for articulation with the dens of the axis.
- This is secured by the transverse ligament of the atlas – which attaches to the lateral masses.
- The posterior arch has a groove for the vertebral artery and C1 spinal nerve.
What connects the lateral masses of C1?
An anterior and posterior arch
The lateral masses of C1 contain a superior and an inferior articular facet.
- What does the superior articular facet articulate with?
- What does the inferior articular facet articulate with?
- Superior articular facet articulates with the occipital condyles of the occiput
- Inferior articular facet articulates with lateral masses of C2
How does C1 articualte with the dens of C2?
The anterior arch of C1 contains a facet for articulation with the dens of the axis. This is secured by the transverse ligament of the atlas (C1) which attaches to the lateral masses.
What does the anterior arch of C1 contain? The posterior arch?
- Anterior arch –> contains a facet for articulation with the dens of the axis
- Posterior arch –> contains a groove for the vertebral artery and C1 spinal nerve.
How is the axis (C2) easily identifiable?
Due to its dens (odontoid process) which extends superiorly from the anterior portion of the vertebra.
What does the dens articulate with? What movement does this allow?
The dens articulates with the anterior arch of the atlas, in doing so creating the medial atlanto-axial joint. This allows for rotation of the head independently of the torso.
How does the axis (C2) articulate with the atlas (C1)? What joints does this form?
The axis contains superior articular facets, which articulate with the inferior articular facets of the atlas to form the two lateral atlanto-axial joints.
What are the two different joints present throughout the entire vertebral column?
- Between vertebral bodies –> adjacent vertebral bodies are joined by i_ntervertebral discs,_ made of fibrocartilage. This is a type of cartilaginous joint, known as a symphysis.
- Between vertebral arches –> formed by the articulation of superior and inferior articular processes from adjacent vertebrae. It is a synovial type joint.
What joints are unique to the cervical spine?
- Lateral atlanto-axial joints (x2)
- Medial atlanto-axial joint (x1)
- Atlanto-occipital joints (x2)