II. Anatomy: Seven Cervical Vertebrae

  1. Level C1: Atlas
  2. Level C2: Axis with Dens and Odontoid process
  3. Level C7: Vertebra prominens
    1. Spinous process long and prominent
    2. C8 cervical nerve root exits below C7 Vertebra

III. Anatomy: General

  1. Atlanto-Axial Joint (Atlas and Axis)
    1. C1 (Atlas) is a bony ring without a Vertebral body
    2. C2 (Axis) has an odontoid process (dens) that is tightly bound by transverse ligament to C1
  2. Cervical spinal nerves C1-C7 exit about their corresponding Vertebrae
    1. In transitioning to Thoracic Spine, C8 exits below the C7 Vertebra, and above T1
    2. In contrast, all thoracic and lumbar spinal nerves exit below their corresponding Vertebrae
  3. Cervical nerve root
    1. Motor Nerve roots (anterior, ventral)
    2. Sensory Nerve roots (posterior, dorsal)
  4. Neural foramina
    1. Contains cervical nerve root
    2. Uncovertebral joint borders foramen anteriorly
    3. Facet joint borders foramen posteriorly
  5. Intervertebral disc
    1. Lies anterior and medial to neural foramina
    2. Disc Herniation may compress the nerve roots near the foramen
  6. Lateral Herniation compresses the nerve root below
    1. Example: C5-6 disc Herniation compresses C6 root

IV. Anatomy: Bone and Ligament

  1. General Cervical Vertebrae
    1. orthoSpineVertebraeCervicalGrayBB84.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    2. orthoSpineVertebraeCervicalLateralGrayBB85.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    3. orthoSpineCervicalGrayBB305.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    4. orthoSpineCervicalGrayBB307.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
  2. Vertebra C1 (Atlas)
    1. orthoSpineVertebraeCervical1AtlasGrayBB86.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    2. orthoSpineC1GrayBB306.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
  3. Vertebra C2
    1. See Occipital Nerve
    2. orthoSpineVertebraeCervical2GrayBB87.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    3. orthoSpineVertebraeCervical2LateralGrayBB88.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    4. orthoSpineC1to2XsGrayBB308.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    5. orthoSpineCervical1to2LimagentsGrayBB304.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
  4. Vertebra C7
    1. orthoSpineVertebraeCervical7GrayBB89.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)

V. Anatomy: Muscles

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Related Studies

Ontology: Cervical spine (C0728985)

Definition (NCI) Those vertebrae immediately behind (caudal to) the skull, C1-C7 in man.
Concepts Body Part, Organ, or Organ Component (T023)
SnomedCT 122494005, 84667006
LNC LP30301-3, MTHU012095
English Cervical spine, Cx - Cervical spine, Cervical vertebral column, Cervical Spine, C Spine, Spine.cervical, cervical vertebral column, cervical spines, cervical vertebrae, cervical spine, cervical spinal column, cervical vertebras, Structure of cervical vertebral column, Cervical spine structure, Structure of cervical vertebral column (body structure), Cervical spine structure (body structure), Cervical spinal column
Spanish columna cervical, columna espinal cervical, columna vertebral cervical, estructura de la columna vertebral cervical (estructura corporal), estructura de la columna vertebral cervical

Ontology: Bone of cervical vertebra (C0817386)

Concepts Body Part, Organ, or Organ Component (T023)
English Bone of cervical vertebra