Cervical Spine Anatomy

Aka: Cervical Spine Anatomy, C-Spine Anatomy, Cervical Vertebrae, Cervical Spine

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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

  1. NeckLateralMuscles.jpg

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