VI. Regions of the Vertebral Column--Cervical Region Flashcards
Which mammals do not have seven cervical vertebrae?
the two toed sloth, manatee, ant bear, and three toed sloth
Which mammals have more than seven cervical vertebrae?
ant bear, three toed sloth
Which mammals have less than seven cervical vertebras?
two toed sloth, manatee
What is the number of vertebrae in the typical cervical spine?
seven
Which vertebrae are typical cervicals?
C3-C6
Which vertebrae are atypical cervicals?
C1, C2, C7
What is the shape of the typical cervical vertebral body from the cranial view?
rectangular
What is the appearance of the typical cervical vertebral body from the lateral view?
posterior height is greater than anterior height by a few millimeters
What would be the direction of the cervical curve based on osseous features?
posterior or kyphotic
What accounts for the direction of the typical cervical curve?
the intervertebral disc height
What is the direction of the typical cervical curve?
anterior or lordotic
Which vertebral couples will demonstrate a decrease in intervertebral disc height?
C2/C3 down to C4/C5
At which vertebral couple will the cervical curve again increase intervertebral disc height?
C5/C6
What are the names of the lateral modification of the superior epiphyseal rim?
uncinate process, unciform process, uncovertebral process, uncus or lateral lip
What are the modifications of the inferior epiphyseal rim of a typical cervical?
anterior lip, posterior lip, right and left lateral grooves
What is the joint classification for the anterior lip-anterior longitudinal ligament-anterior groove articulation?
fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis
What is the joint classification for the posterior lip-posterior longitudinal ligament-posterior groove articulation?
fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis
What is the joint classification for the uncinate process-lateral groove articulation?
modified synovial saddle (diarthrosis sellar)
What is the joint classification for the spongy bone-intervertebral disc articulation?
cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis
How many joints are present on the upper surface of a typical cervical vertebral body?
five
How many joints are present on the lower surface of a typical cervical vertebral body?
five
How many total joint surfaces are present on the vertebral body of a typical cervical?
ten
What is the name given to the uncinate process-lateral groove articulation?
joint of Luschka or uncovertebral joint
The joint of Luschka is formed from what surfaces?
the uncinate process and lateral groove
How many total synovial joint surfaces are present on the vertebral body of a typical cervical?
four
What is the functional significance of the joint of Luschka?
it appears to stabilize the intervertebral disc while accommodating flexion-extension and requiring couple motion (axial rotation with lateral bending) in the cervical spine
What muscle attaches to the typical cervical vertebral body?
the longus colli muscle
What is the orientation and angulation of the pedicle of a typical cervical?
posterolateral, 45 degrees
In the vertebral couple, which cervical vertebral body will contribute more toward the height of the intervertebral foramen?
neither, both contribute equally to the intervertebral foramen height
What is the direction of projection of the cervical lamina?
posteromedially
What ligament attaches to the lamina of a typical cervical?
ligamentum flavum
What joint classification will be associated with the ligamentum flavum and its attachment?
fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis
Ossification of the ligamentum flavum at the attachment site on the lamina will result in what feature?
para-articular processes
Ossification of the ligamentum flavum at the attachment site on the lamina will be associated with which classification of bone?
accessory bone
Ossification within the length of the ligamentum flavum will be associated with which classification of bone?
heterotopic bone
What is the outline of the vertebral foramen of a typical cervical vertebra?
heart-shaped or triangular
Which is the greatest diameter of the vertebral foramen of typical cervicals?
transverse
The greatest transverse diameter of the typical cervical vertebra occurs at _____?
C6
What osseous parts form the typical cervical vertebra transverse processes?
costal element, anterior tubercle, costotransverse bar, posterior tubercle, true transverse process
What muscles will attach to the anterior tubercle of a typical cervical vertebra?
anterior scalene, longus capitis, longus colli, anterior intertransversarii
What muscles may attach to the posterior tubercle of a typical cervical vertebra?
splenius capitis, iliocostalis cervicis, longissimus cervicis, levator scapula, middle scalene, posterior scalene, rotators and posterior intertransversarii
What muscles will attach to the costotransverse bar?
middle scalene and posterior intertransversarii
What produces the primary tension on the transverse process that will cause remodeling in the anterolateral and inferior directions?
cervical spinal nerves as they are directed anterolaterally and inferiorly to form the cervical and brachial plexuses
What is the name given to the superior margin of the costotransverse bar?
sulcus for the ventral primary ramus of a cervical spinal nerve
What is the orientation and angulation of a typical cervical transverse process?
60 degrees anterolaterally (from midsagittal plane), 15 degrees inferiorly (from the horizontal plane)
What is the name give to the modification of the anterior tubercle of the C6 transverse process?
the carotid tubercle
What will occupy the typical cervical vertebra transverse foramen?
the vertebral artery, vertebral venous plexus and postganglionic sympathetic motor nerve fibers
What is the name of the surface feature observed between the ends of the articular pillar?
the groove/sulcus for the dorsal ramus of a cervical spinal nerve
What is the classic angulation of typical cervical articular facets?
40 to 45 degrees from the coronal plane
Recent work suggests what angulation for typical cervical articular facets?
55 to 60 degrees
What is the orientation of the typical cervical superior articular facet?
backward, upward, medial (BUM)
What is the orientation of the typical cervical inferior articular facet?
forward, lateral, downward (FoLD)
What muscles will attach to typical cervical articular processes?
the longissimus capitis, longissimus cervicis, semispinalis capitis, semispinalis cervicis, multifidis and rotators
What muscles blend with the capsular ligament of cervical zygapophyses?
the semispinalis capitis, multifidis and rotator longus
What is the joint classification for the typical cervical zygapophysis?
synovial plane (diarthrosis arthrodia) joint
What modifications of the synovial joint are observed in the cervical spine?
meniscoidal folds
What function will meniscoidal folds provide in cervical zygapophyses?
they are assumed to distribute pressure across the joint surface
The greatest range of flexion-extension among the typical cervical vertebrae occurs at which vertebral couple?
typically C5/C6
What motions are couple in the cervical spine?
lateral bending and axial rotation
Ranges in coupled motion among the typical cervical vertebrae will be similar for what cervical vertebral couples?
the C2/C3, C3/C4, C4/C5 vertebral couples
Ranges of coupled motion among the typical cervical vertebrae will begin to decrease at what cervical vertebral couple?
the C5/C6 vertebral couple
What is the usual condition for the Caucasian typical cervical spinous process?
they are bifid
What is the usual condition for the African-American typical cervical spinous process?
they are non-bifid
What muscles may attach to the typical cervical spinous process?
the spinalis cervicis, simispinalis cervicis, semispinalis thoracis, multifidis, rotators and interspinalis
What ligaments will attach to the typical cervical spinous process?
the interspinous ligament and ligamentum nuchae
What will form the anterior boundary of a typical cervical intervertebral foramen?
the lateral groove and vertebral body of the segment above, the uncinate process and vertebral body of the segment below, the intervertebral disc and the posterior longitudinal ligament
What will form the posterior boundary of a typical cervical intervertebral foramen?
the inferior articular process (post-zygapophysis), the superior articular process (pre-zygapophysis), the capsular ligament and the ligamentum flavum
What will form the superior boundary of a typical cervical intervertebral foramen?
the inferior vertebral notch/incisure
What will form the inferior boundary of a typical cervical intervertebral foramen?
the superior vertebral notch/incisure
What is the unique anterior boundary of the intervertebral foramen for the C4 spinal nerve?
the lateral groove of C3 and uncinate process of C4 forming the joint of Luschka