Anatomy of the Cervical Spine

1. Anatomy of the Cervical Spine Physician Name Physician Institution Date

2. Cervical Spine Anatomy • Primary function • Mobility, support, and protection of spinal canal and neural structures

3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cervical Spine Anatomy • Vertebrae (7) • Intervertebral discs (6) • Pairs of exiting nerve roots (8) • Cervical lordosis Occ-C7 averages 40° • Most of the lordosis occurs at the C1-C2 segment

4. Cervical Spine Anatomy • Approximately 50% of flexion-extension motion occurs at occiput-C1 • Approximately 50% of rotation occurs at C1-C2 • Lesser amounts of flexion-extension, rotation, and lateral bending occur segmentally between C2-C7

5. Cervical Spine Anatomy

6. Occipital condyles Foramen magnum Cervical Spine Anatomy • Atypical vertebral • structure C1 (atlas) • Vertebral canal/foramen • Anterior arch • Anterior tubercle • Transverse process • Posterior arch • Transverse foramen • Lateral mass Inferior Superior

7. Cervical Spine Anatomy • Occiput-C1 segment • The occiput-C1 joints are synovial joints comprising the convex occipital condyles, which articulate with the concave lateral masses of C1

8. Cervical Spine Anatomy • Occiput-C1 segment • Motion at the occiput-C1 segment is restricted primarily to flexion-extension due to bony structures, ligamentous constraints, and the absence of an intervertebral disc

9. Cervical Spine Anatomy • Atypical cervical • vertebra C2 (axis) • Odontoid process or dens • Vertebral canal/foramen • Facet joints • Transverse process • Transverse foramen • Bifid spinous process • Lamina anterior view posterior view

10. Cervical Spine Anatomy • The odontoid process of the axis (C2) extends cranially to form the axis of rotation with atlas (C1)

11. Cervical Spine Anatomy • C1-C2 segment • The primary motion at the C1-C2 joint is rotation

12. Cervical Spine Anatomy • C1-C2 segment • The primary motion at the C1-C2 joint is rotation

13. Cervical Spine Anatomy • Ligaments • The cervical spine also features a complex arrangement of ligaments to supplement its structure and mobility

14. Cervical Spine Anatomy • Ligaments • Anterior longitudinal ligament • Posterior longitudinal ligament • Ligamentum flavum • Intertransverse ligaments • Interspinous ligaments • Ligamentum nuchae

15. Cervical Spine Anatomy • Ligaments • Anterior longitudinal ligament • Posterior longitudinal ligament • Ligamentum flavum • Intertransverse ligaments • Interspinous ligaments • Ligamentum nuchae

16. Cervical Spine Anatomy • Ligaments • Anterior longitudinal ligament • Posterior longitudinal ligament • Ligamentum flavum • Intertransverse ligaments • Interspinous ligaments • Ligamentum nuchae

17. Cervical Spine Anatomy • Ligaments • Anterior longitudinal ligament • Posterior longitudinal ligament • Ligamentum flavum • Intertransverse ligaments • Interspinous ligaments • Ligamentum nuchae

18. Cervical Spine Anatomy • Ligaments • Anterior longitudinal ligament • Posterior longitudinal ligament • Ligamentum flavum • Intertransverse ligaments • Interspinous ligaments • Ligamentum nuchae

19. Cervical Spine Anatomy • Ligaments • Anterior longitudinal ligament • Posterior longitudinal ligament • Ligamentum flavum • Intertransverse ligaments • Interspinous ligaments • Ligamentum nuchae

20. Cervical Spine Anatomy • Neural elements • 8 pair of cervical nerves • Exit the spinal canal superior to the vertebrae for which they are numbered • C1 nerves exit the canal between Occ & C1 • C2 nerves exit the canal between C1 & C2 • C8 nerves exit the canal between C7 & T1

21. Cervical Spine Anatomy • Arteries • Carotid arteries • Located anterior and bilateral to the spine • Vertebral arteries • Enter the transverse foramen at C6 and continue through C1

22. Cervical Spine Anatomy • Veins • Jugular veins • Located bilateral and anterior to the spine. • Vertebral veins • Located within the transverse foramen of C1-C7

23. Cervical Spine Anatomy Neural and Circulatory Elements