features and characteristics of the typical and the A typical cervical vertebrae, typical and A typical cervical vertebrae, attachments of cervical vetebrae, atlas and axis features

1. CERVICAL
VERTEBRAE
SANA YASEEN
ANATOMY DEPARTMENT
KIMS

2. INTRODUCTION
 There are seven cervical vertebrae
 They are identified by the presence of foramina transversaria
 They are dividded in to typical and Atypical cervical vertebrae
 1st, 2nd and 7th are Atypical and 3rd to 6th are typical vertebrae.

4. FEATURES OF TYPICAL VERTEBRA
BODY:
 Body is small and broader from side to side
than from before backward
 Its superior surface is concave transversely
with upward projection lips on each side.
 The inferior surface is saddle-shaped
 Has anterior and posterior surface
VERTEBRAL FORAMEN
 Is larger than the body
 Traingular in shape.
VERTEBRAL ARCH
 Pedicles are directed backwards and
laterally
 Lamina are long and narrow
 Transverse processes are pierceed
by foramen transversaria
 Spine is short and bifid. Noch if
filled by ligamentum nuchae

6. ATTACHMENTS
 Anterior and posterior longitudinal ligament attached to the upper and lower borders of the
body of vertebra anterior and posteriorly.
 Upper bborder and lower parts of the anterior surfaces of the lamina provide attachment to
the ligamenta flava
 The foramen tranversaria transmits vertebral artery
 Anterio tubercles gives origin to scaleneus anterior and longus capitis, and oblique part of
longus colli.
 Posterior tubercle gives origin to scalenus medius and scalenus posterior the levator scapulae,
splenius cevicis, lingissimus cervicis and iliocostalis cervicis.
 The spine give origin to deep muscles of the back of neck, interspinales, semispinalis, thoracis
and cervicis, spinalis cervicis and multifidus.

9. FIRST CERVICAL VERTEBRA
 It is called ATLAS.
Point of identification:
 Is ring shaped, has no body or spine.
 Has short anterior arch and long posterior arch right and left lateral masses, and transverse processes.
 The anterior arch is marked by median anterior tubercle on its anterior aspect. Posterior surface bears an
oval facet.
 Posterior arch forms about two-fifth of the ring. Marcked by posterior median tubercle.
 Each lateral masses has:
 Superior articular facet onits superior surafce. It articulates with corresponding condyles to form atlanto-occipital
joint.
 Lower surface has inferior articular fact. It articules with axis vertebrae to form atlanto axial joint.
 Transverse process project laterally from lateral mass. Its long length alows allows it to act as an effective
lever for rotatory movements of the head. Transverse process is pierced by foramne transversaria.

12. SECOND CERVICAL VERTEBBRA
 Is also known as axis
 Identified by the presence of dens or odontoid process( tooth like processprojecting
upward).
 Dens articulates anteriorly with the anterior arch of the atlas , posteriorly by
transverse ligament of atlas.
 Laminae are thick and strong
 Superior articular facet laterally over hangs the foramen. Inferior articular facet
articulate 3rd cervicle vertebrae.
 Spine is large, thick and very strong with bifid tip.
 Traneverse process is very small and represent true posterior tubercles only.

13. ATTACHMENTS
 Dens provides attachment to apical ligament, below the apex to alar ligament
 Anterior surface of the body has insertion of longus colli, and also anterior
longitudinal.
 Posterior surface of the body provides attachment from below to above, posterior
longitudinal ligament, membrana tectoria, verticle limb of cruciate ligament
 Lamina provides attachment of ligamenta flava
 Transverse process give attachment to levator scapula at its tip, scalenus medius
anteriorly and splenius cervicis posteriorly.
 Spine gives attachement to ligamentum nuchae, semispinalis cervicis, the rectus
capitis posterior major, inferior oblique, spinalis cervicis, interspinalis.

17. 7TH CERVICAL VERTEBRA
 Also known as vertebra prominence because of its long spinous process. The tip
can be felt at the lower end of nucal furrow
 Its spine is thick long and horizontal
 Transverse process is relatively large in size.
 Posterior root is larger than anterior
 Anterior tubercle is absent
 Transverse foramin is relatively small , and sometimes completely absent.

19. ATTACHMENT
 Tip of the spine: ligamentum nuchae, trapezius muscle, rhomboideus minor,
serratus posterior superior, splenius capitis, semispinalis thoracis, interspinalis
 Posterior tubercle : suprapleural membrane
 Transverse foramina allows passage of accessory vertebral vein.

20. THANK YOU...