The document discusses the anatomy of the axial skeleton, specifically the vertebral column and cervical vertebrae. It notes that the vertebral column is made up of 26 vertebrae and provides details on the typical parts of a vertebra including the body, vertebral arch, and processes. It also summarizes the key features and functions of the cervical vertebrae, intervertebral discs, and muscles that control neck movement.

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ANATOMY MUSCULOSKELETAL
AXIAL SKELETON
CERVICAL VERTEBRAE

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Vertebra Column
• Spine @ backbone
• Composed of a series of
bones called vertebrae.
• Vertebral column,
sternum and ribs form the
skeleton of the trunk of
the body.

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Vertebrae
RibcageSternum

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Function of Vertebral Column
• Functions as a strong, flexible rod with elements
that can be move forward, backward and
sideways, and rotate.
• Enclosing and protecting the spinal cord
• Supports the head
• Serves as a point attachment for the ribs, pelvic
girdle and muscles of the back.

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Vertebral Column
• Early development is 33 bones.
• Grows up – several vertebrae in the sacral and
coccygeal regions fuse.
• Normal adults, typically contains 26 vertebrae.
• Consists: cervical , thoracic, lumbar, sacral and
coccyx vertebrae.
• cervical , thoracic, lumbar – movable
• sacral and coccyx vertebrae - immovable

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Vertebra Column
• Distributed as follows:
1. 7 cervical vertebrae – neck region
2. 12 thoracic vertebrae – posterior to the
thoracic cavity
3. 5 lumbar vertebrae – support the lower back.
4. 1 sacrum – consists of 5 fused sacral
vertebrae.
5. 1 coccyx – consists of 4 fused coccygeal
vertebrae.

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Parts of a Typical Vertebra
• Vertebrae in different regions of the spinal
column vary in size, shape, and details.
• Vertebrae typically consist:
1. Body
2. Vertebral arch
3. Processes

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Body
• Thick
• Disc shape anterior portion
• Weight bearing part of the vertebrae.
• Superior & inferior surface are roughened – attachment
of cartilaginous intervertebral disc.
• Anterior and lateral surface contain nutrien foramina,
opening for blood vessels deliver nutrient and O2 and
remove CO2 and wastes from bone tissues.

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Vertebral Arch
• 2 short, thick processes called the pedicles, project
posteriorly from the vertebrae body to unite with the
flat laminae, to form the vertebrae arch.
• Vertebral arch extend posteriorly from the body of
the vertebra, together with the body and vertebral
arch surround the spinal cord by forming the
vertebral foramen.
• Vertebral foramen contain spinal cord, adipose
tissue and areolar connective tissue and blood
vessels.

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Cont…
• Collectively, the vertebral foramina of all vertebrae
form the vertebral (spinal) cavity.
• The pedicles exhibit superior and inferior indentation
called vertebral notches.
• Superior and inferior vertebral notch are stacked on
top of ones another to form intervertebral foramen.
• Intervertebral foramen permits the passage of single
spinal nerve that passes to a spesific region of the
body.

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Processes
• 7 processes arise from the vertebral arch.
• At the point where lamina and pedicle join, a
transverse process extends laterally on each
side.
• A single spinous process projects posteriorly
from the junction of the laminae.
• These 3 processes serve as points of
attachments for muscles.

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Cont..
• The remaining 4 processes forms joints with other
vertebrae above and below.
• 2 superior articular processes articulate with the
2 inferior articular processes of vertebrae above
them.
• The articulating surfaces of articular processes
called facets.
• Articulation between the bodies and articular facets
of successive vertebrae are called intervertebral
joint.

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• Neural foramen
• Notches between adjacent
vertebrae.
• Allows for the passage of
the spinal nerve roots,
spinal artery, veins, nerve
plexus, and ligaments
Intervertebral Foramen

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Intervertebral Discs
• Intervertebral
fibrocartilage.
• Lie between adjacent
vertebrae in the spine.
• Each disc forms a
cartilaginous joint to allow
slight movement of the
vertebrae
• Acts as a ligaments to hold
the vertebrae together.

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Intervertebral Disc
• Absorb shock
• Discs consist of an outer annulus fibrosus, which surrounds
the inner nucleus pulposus.
• As people age, the nucleus pulposus begins to dehydrate,
which limits its ability to absorb shock. The annulus fibrosus
gets weaker with age and begins to tear.

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Cervical Vertebrae
• C1-C7
• C1, C2, C7 = Atypical , C2 – C6 = Typical
• The bodies are smaller than thoracic vertebrae.
• Vertebral arches are larger.
• Have one vertebral foramina, and two transverse
foramina.
• Vertebral foramina of cervical vertebrae are the largest in the
spinal column because they house the cervical enlargement
of the spinal cord.

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Cont…
• Each cervical transverse processes contain a
transverse foramen through which the vertebral
artery, vein and nerve pass.
• Spinous processes of C2-C6 are often bifid – split
into two parts.
• The first two cervical vertebra considerably from
others.
• First cervical vertebrae (C1) called atlas, and
second cervical vertebrae (C2) called axis.

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Typical Cervical Vertebra

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Cervical 1 (Atlas)
• The atlas is a ring of bone with anterior and posterior arches
and large lateral masses.
• Lacks a body and a spinous process.
• Large vertebral foramen (triangular)
• The superior surface of the lateral masses called superior
articular facets are concave.
• Superior articular facets articulate with occipital condyle of
occipital bone to form atlanto – occipital joint.

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Cont…
• These articulation permits the movement for “yes”.
• Inferior surface of the lateral masses called inferior articular
facets, articulate with axis vertebrae to form atlanto-axial joint.
• Transverse process and transverse foramina of the atlas are
quiet large.
• The large vertebral foramina divide into 2 foramina by the
transverse ligament; larger posterior foramina (spinal cord)
and smaller anterior foramina (dens)

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Atlas

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Cervical 1 (Atlas)

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Cervical 2 (Axis)
• Atypical cervical vertebra
• Have a body
• Peglike process called dens or odontoid process projects
up through anterior portion of the vertebral foramen of the
atlas.
• The dens makes a pivot on which the atlas and head
rotate, as in moving the head to signify “ NO”.

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Cervical 2 (Axis)

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Atlanto-Axial Joint

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Cont…
• This arrangement allow side to side rotation of the head.
• The articulation formed between the anterior arch (facet) of
the atlas and dens of the axis, and between their
articulation facets (inferior and superior articular facets)
called the atlanto-axial joint.

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Cervical 3-6 (C3-C6)
• Typical vertebra previously describe.
• Referred slide no 21 and 22.

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Cervical 7 (C7)
• Called the vertebra prominents.
• Has single large spinous process that can be felt at the
base of the neck.
• Spinous process is not bifid.
• Body is larger.
• Pedicles are directed more posteriorly than laterally.
• Inferior articular facets face more anteriorly than
downwards.
• Vertebral foramen, generally smaller than other cervical
vertebrae.

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Cervical 7 (C7)
Vertebral Prominents
Spinous process not
bifid, large project
posteriorly

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Cervical 7 (C7)

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MUSCLES OF THE NECK THAT
MOVE THE HEAD
Balance and movement of the head on the
vertebral column involves several neck muscles.
• Sternocleidomastoid
• Semispinalis capitis
• Splenius capitis
• Longissimus capitis

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Sternocleidomastoid
• Origin : sternal head from superior and anterior
surface of manubrium of sternum; clavicular
head from medial half of clavicle
• Insertion : mastoid process of temporal bone
• Action : bilaterally – flex cervical portion of
vertebral column, flex head and elevate ribs
during force inhalation
: unilaterally – laterally rotate and flex
head to side opposite contracting
muscles.

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Sternocleidomastoid (cont…)
• Nerve supply (nerve
innervations)
- accessory (XI) nerve

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Semispinalis Capitis
• Origin : transverse process of C7 and T1 – T7
vertebra.
• Insertion : occipital bone between superior and
inferior nuchal line.
• Action : bilaterally extend head , unilaterally
lateral rotate head to same side as contracting
muscle.
• Nerve innervations : cervical and thoracic
spinal nerves

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Semispinalis Capitis

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Splenius Capitis
• Origin : ligamentum nuchae and spinous
process of C7 and T1 – T4
• Insertion : occipital bones and mastoid process
of temporal bone.
• Action : Bilaterally extend head, unilaterally
lateral rotate head to same side as contracting
muscle.
• Nerve innervations : cervical spinal nerves

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Splenius Capitis

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Longissimus Capitis
• Origin : transverse process of T1 – T4 and
articular process of C4 – C7
• Insertion : posterior margin of mastoid process
of temporal bone.
• Action : Bilaterally extend head, unilaterally
lateral rotate head to same side as contracting
muscle.
• Nerve innervations : middle and inferior
cervical spinal nerves

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Neck Flexion / Extension
Extension Flexion

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Lateral Flexion

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Head Rotation