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1. BONES OF THE NECK
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2.  CERVICAL VERTEBRAE
 HYOID BONE
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3. CERVICAL VERTEBRAE
Smallest of the vertebrae
Lies between the cranium and thoracic
vertebrae
Consists of 7 distinct vertebrae- C1-C7
Has 3 main characteristic features
Triangular vertebral foramen
Bifid spinous process
Transverse foramina 3

4. 4

5. Typical cervical vertebrae
Large transverse foramina that transmit the
vertebral artery
Short and bifid spinous process
C3-C6
Atypical cervical vertebrae
C1,C2 and C7
C7 is also called vertebra prominens
because of its prominent spine
C7 is atypical in that its long spine is not bifid
but ends in a rounded tubercle and the
transverse foramen does not transmit the
vertebral artery 5

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7. C1 VERTEBRA
Also known as Atlas
Has no vertebral body
Has no spinous process
Has lateral masses connected by an anterior
and posterior arch that serve as body for
weight bearing
Anterior arch contains a facet for articulation
with the dens of the axis
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10. C2 VERTEBRA
Also known as Axis
Presence of odontoid process (dens) that
extends superiorly from the anterior portion
of the vertebra
The dens articulates with the anterior arch of
the atlas creating the medial atlanto-axial
joint
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13. CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Jefferson fracture of atlas
Compression of the lateral masses of the
atlas due to a vertical fall onto an extended
neck
Causes them to be driven apart, fracturing
one or both anterior/posterior arches
Transverse ligament of the atlas may also
be ruptured if the fall occurs with enough
force
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14. HYOID BONE
U-shaped bone located in the
anterior neck.
Lies at the base of the mandible at
approx. C3 vertebra
Acts as site of attachment for the
anterior neck muscles
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16. STRUCTURE OF HYOID BONE
 Body
Central part
Has anterior convex and posterior concave
surface
 Greater horn
Projects from each end of the body
posteriolaterally
 Lesser horn
Arises from the superior aspect of the hyoid bone
near the origin of the greater horn
Projects superioposteriorly toward the styloid
process
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18. MUSCULAR ATTACHMENTS
Unique bone- it does not articulate with
any other bones.
Suspended in place by the muscles and
ligaments that attach to it
Muscular attachments include; suprahyoid
muscles, infrahyoid muscles, muscle from
the pharynx and oral cavity.
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19. LIGAMENT ATTACHMENTS
Stylohoid ligament
From styloid process of temporal bone to lesser
horn of the hyoid bone
Thyrohyoid membrane
From superior border of the thyroid cartilage to
posterior surface of hyoid bone and greater
horns
Hyoepiglottic ligament
Connects the hyoid bone to anterior aspect of
the epiglottis 19

20. CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Fracture of hyoid bone
Relatively rare
Well protected by the mandible and cervical
vertebrae
Characteristically associated with
strangulation; therefore a significant post-
mortem finding
Can also occur as a result of trauma
Clinical features include; pain on speaking,
odynophagia and dsypnoea
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21. A
B
C
D
E
F
G
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22. A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
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23. A
B
C
D
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24. A
B
C
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