The cervical spine is made up of 7 vertebrae. C3-C6 are typical vertebrae with bifid spinous processes and facets while C1-C2 and C7 have distinguishing features. The joints in the cervical spine include intervertebral joints between vertebral bodies, joints of Lushka between vertebral arches, and craniovertebral joints. Important ligaments like the atlantoaxial and zygohypophyseal joints allow flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation of the 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