Anatomy of cervical spine

1. ANATOMY OF CERVICAL SPINE

2. INTRODUCTION
• The cervical spine made of 7 vertebrae
• C3-C6 are called typical vertebrae and C1,2 & 7 are considered
atypical

4. TYPICAL VERTEBRA
• Bifid spinious process
• Large triangular vertebral
foramen
• Superior and inferior facets are
flat
• Transverse processes are small
and pierced by foramen
transversarium.

6. • C7 differs slightly from typical vertebra
• Long non bifid spinous process (vertebra prominens)
• Vestigial anterior tubercle
• Small foramen transversarium containing vein only.

7. • C1-Atlas
• Has no body or spine
• Consists of right and left lateral masses coonected by a
short anterior arch & long curved posterior arch

8. • C2-Axis
• Presence of Odontoid process
• Bifid spine
• Absent ant. tubercle of transverse process
• Thick lamina

9. JOINTS IN THE CERVICAL SPINE
• Intervertebral joints
• Between vertebral bodies
• Secondary cartilaginous joints
• Joints of Lushka
• Between vertebral arches
• Zygohypophyseal joints
• Intervertebral syndesmoses
• Craniovertebral joints

11. ZYGOHYPOPHYSEAL JOINTS

12. ATLANTOAXIAL JOINT

13. LIGAMENTS OF CERVICAL SPINE

15. MOVEMENTS OF CERVICAL SPINE
• Flexion
• Extension
• Lateral flexion
• Rotation

16. • 50% of flexion/extension occurs at atlanto-occipital jt
• 50% of rotation occurs at atlantoaxial jt

17. APPLIED ANATOMY

18. CERVICAL DISC PROLAPSE

19. THANK YOU