VI. Regions of the Vertebral Column: Cervical Region: Atypical Cervical Vertebrae: C1/ Atlas

Question 1

What muscles attaches to the anterior arch of C1?

Answer 1

longus colli

Question 2

What is the orientation of the superior articular facet of C1?

Answer 2

backward, upward, medial BUM

Question 3

What is the orientation of the inferior articular facet of C1?

Answer 3

backward, medial, downward BMD

Question 4

What muscles attach to the lateral mass of C1?

Answer 4

levator scapula, splenius cervicis and rectus capitis anterior

Question 5

What is the distance from the posterior tubercle of the posterior arch to the skin in each gender?

Answer 5

males: about fifty millimeters; females: about thirty-seven millimeters

Question 6

What attaches to the posterior tubercle of the posterior arch of C1?

Answer 6

rectus capitis posterior minor muscle and ligamentum nuchae

Question 7

What is the earliest age of development where ossification of the anterior free margin of the posterior atlanto-occipital ligament was observed?

Answer 7

about age 7 years old

Question 8

What names are given to the opening formed by the ponticulus posticus?

Answer 8

arcuate foramen or retroarticular canal

Question 9

Ponticulus posticus has observed in what ethnic populations?

Answer 9

all ethnic populations studied thus far

Question 10

What is the general range of incidence of ponticulus posticus in the populations studied?

Answer 10

1%-4%

Question 11

What is the gender bias now associated with ponticulus posticus?

Answer 11

female

Question 12

What is observed on the undersurface of the posterior arch of C1?

Answer 12

“inferior vertebral notch “ and an attachment site for the posterior atlanto-axial ligament

Question 13

What is the location of the “zygapophysis” relative to the atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial intervertebral foramina?

Answer 13

it forms part of the anterior boundary of the intervertebral foramen in both cases

Question 14

What muscles attach to the transverse process of C1?

Answer 14

rectus capitis anterior, rectus capitis lateralis, middle scalene, levator scapula, splenius cervicis, obliquus capitis superior, obliquus capitis inferior and intertransversarii muscles

Question 15

What suboccipital muscles are known to have fascial projections attaching to the spinal dura?

Answer 15

rectus capitis posterior minor, rectus capitis posterior major, obliquus capitis inferior

Question 16

What are the connections between suboccipital muscles and the spinal dura called?

Answer 16

myodural bridges

Question 17

What are the lateral bridges of atlas connected to?

Answer 17

the lateral mass and the transverse process of atlas

Question 18

What opening is identified when a complete lateral bridge is formed?

Answer 18

the retrotransverse foramen

Question 19

What are the possible contents of the retrotransverse foramen?

Answer 19

the vertebral artery, a branch from the suboccipital nerve and veins communicating with the venous sinuses of the neck

Question 20

Which of the ponticles (bridges) of atlas is only abserved in humans?

Answer 20

lateral bridges

Question 21

What is observed in the transverse foramen of C1?

Answer 21

vertebral artery, vertebral venous plexus, postganglionic sympathetic motor nerve fibers

Question 22

What is the gender variation for measurements of the transverse diameter of C1?

Answer 22

males: 78 millimeters and females: 72 millimeters

Question 23

What is the distance from the posterior tubercle of the transverse process of C1 to the skin for each gender?

Answer 23

a little over 30 millimeters for both males and females

Question 24

How many synovial joint surfaces are observed on C1?

Answer 24

five

Question 25

What synovial joint surfaces are observed at C1?

Answer 25

two superior articular facets, two inferior articular facets and the fovea dentis