The Cervical and Thoracic Spine (and region)

Question 1

What is the axilla region

Answer 1

Area that lies underneath the glenohumeral joint, at junction of upper limb and thorax

Question 2

What makes up the borders of the axilla region

Answer 2

Apex - lateral border of first rib, superior border of scapula, posterior border of clavicle

Base - skin of armpit

Lateral wall - intertubercular groove of humerus

Medial wall - serratus anterior and thoracic wall

Anterior wall - pectoralis major and minor, and subclavius

Posterior wall - subscapulairs, teres major, latissimus dorsi

Question 3

What is the contents of the axilla region

Answer 3

Axillary artery - medial and posterior, not lateral

Axillary vein

Brachial plexus

Biceps brachii and coracobrachialis

Axillary lymph nodes

Question 4

What are the movements of the cervical spine

Answer 4

Flexion

Extension

Rotation

Lateral flexion

Question 5

What are the three features of the cervical vertebrae which distinguish them from thoracic

Answer 5

Triangular vertebral foramen

Bifid spinous processes

Transverse foramina

Question 6

What is the C1 vertebra called and what differences does it have from the other cervical vertebrae

Answer 6

Atlas

No vertebral body, no spinous process

Has articular facet anteriorly

Has lateral masses on either side of vertebral arch

Posterior arch has groove for vertebral arch and C1 spinal nerve

Question 7

What is the C2 vertebra called and what differences does it have from the other cervical vertebrae

Answer 7

Axis

Has dens on anterior portion of vertebrae

Has largest spinous process

Has rugged lateral masses

Question 8

What joints are present in the cervical spine

Answer 8

Between vertebral bodies

Between vertebral arches

Atlanto-axial joints - medial and lateral joints

Atlanto-occipital joints

Question 9

What articulations form the atlanto-axial joints

Answer 9

Lateral joints - articulation between inferior facets of lateral masses of C1 and superior lateral masses of C2

Medial joint - articulation between dens of C2 and articular facet of C1

Question 10

What articulations form the atlanto-occipital joints

Answer 10

Articulation between superior facets of lateral masses of atlas and occipital condyles at cranium base

Question 11

What are the ligaments found in the cervical spine

Answer 11

Anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments

Ligamentum flavum

Interspinous ligaments

Nuchal ligament

Transverse ligament of atlas

Question 12

What is the function of the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae

Answer 12

Provides passageway for vertebral artery, vein and plexus of sympathetic nerves to pass through

Question 13

What are the charateristic features of the thoracic spine and on which vertebrae are there exceptions

Answer 13

Vertebral body is heart shaped

Demi-facets on sides of each vertebral body (T2-T8) - whole facets on T9 and T10

Costal facets on transverse processes - except T11 and T12

Spinous processes are long and slanted inferiorly