3. Introduction
Identified by the presence of foramina
transversaria
Seven cervical vertebrae
3rd – 6th are typical
1st, 2nd, 7th – atypical
3
4. Typical cervical vertebrae
Body
Vertebral foramen
Vertebral arch
4
Foramen transversarium
Pedicle
Ant tubercle
Post tubercle
Vertebral canal
Spine
lamina
Superior articular
facet
Costotransverse bar
Vertebral arch
5. Body
Small & broader
Concave superior surface with
upward projecting lip
Anterior surface is beveled
5
6. Inferior surface is
saddle shaped
Anterior border
projects downward &
hide intervertebral disc
articular column
Inter vertebral foramina
(superior /inferior
vertebral notches in
pedicle)
6
7. Vertebral foramen
Larger than body
Triangular in shape
7
Vertebral
foramen
Bifid spine
Transverse
foramen
8. Vertebral arch
Pedicles are directed backwards and laterally
Superior and inferior notches are of equal sizes
Laminae are relatively long and narrow, thinner above than below
superior & inferior articular processes – form articular pillars , project
laterally at the junction of pedicle and the lamina
8
9. Transverse process :
Pierced by Foramen
transversaria
Each TP has two roots- ends
as tubercle – ant & post
tubercle
Joined by costotransverse
bar
Costal element = tubercles +
CT bar
Site for articulation with ribs
Ant tubercle of 6th CV is large
– carotid tubercle
9
10. Spine – short & bifid
Notch is filled by ligamentum nuchae
Gives origin to deep muscles of the back of the neck
10
11. Attachments and relations
Anterior & posterior longitudinal
ligaments are attached to the
upper and lower borders of the
body
11
12. Upper borders and lower parts of the anterior
surfaces of the lamina provide attachment to the
ligament flava
12
20. First cervical vertebra- Atlas
Ring shaped
No body
No spine
Short ant arch
Long posterior
arch
Rt & Lt masses
Transverse
process
20
21. Posterior arch – longer than ant arch
Median posterior tubercle
Lateral mass: superior articular facet, groove
Atlanto-occipital joint
21
22. Inferior surface : inferior articular facet,
circular, more or less flat, directed
downward , medially and backward
Articulates with corresponding axis vertebra
to form atlanto-axial joint
Medial surface has a roughened tubercle-
transverse ligament
transverse process projects laterally from
lateral mass – long , acts as lever for
rotatory movements of head , pierced by
foramen transversarium
22
23. Attachments of Atlas vertebrae
Anterior tubercle- anterior longitudinal ligament
On each side –longus colli
23
24. Upper border of the anterior arch gives attachment to the anterior
atlanto-occipital membrane 24
25. Posterior tubercle provides attachment to the
ligamentum nuchae in the median plane and gives
origin to the rectus capitis posterior minor on each
side
25
26. Groove on the
upper surface of
the posterior
arch is occupied
by the vertebral
artery and by
the first cervical
nerve
26
29. 29
1. Ant. Arch
Ant. atlanto-occipital membrane
2. Post. Arch
Post. atlanto-occipital membrane
3. Transverse process.
4. superior articular facet
5. Neural canal.
Spinal cord
6. Foramen transversarium
Vertebral vessles
7. Groove for vertebral a.
8. Tubercle for tr. Ligament.
9. Facet for dense of axis
10.Post. Tubercle
Ligamantum nuchae
11. Ant. Tubercle
Ant. Longitudinal ligament
1
1
1
2
2
2
3 3
4
4
5
6
6
7
7
9
11
10
30. Second cervical vertebra- Axis
Identified by the presence of dens or odontoid
process (strong tooth like process projecting
upwards from the body )
30
31. Axis – Body & Dens
Superior surface of the body- fused with Dens
Dens articulates anteriorly with ant arch of atlas,
posteriorly with transverse ligament of atlas
Superior articular facets
Inferior surface – prominent ant margin which
projects downwards
31
32. Axis- vertebral arch
Pedicle- superior articular facet (circular directed
upward and laterally)
Inferior surface – deep wide inf vertebral notch
Lamina- superior vertebral notch behind the sup
articular process
Lamina – thick & strong
32
39. Seventh cervical vertebra – Vertebra
Prominens
Long ,thick, horizontal spinous process
Not bifid , ends in a tubercle
Transverse process- large , post root is larger than
ant
Ant tubercle is absent
Small foramen transversarium - sometimes double/
absent
39
41. Ossification :
Similar to typical to cervical vertebra
Separate center for each costal process appears
during sixth month of intrauterine life and fuses with
the body and transverse process during fifth to sixth
years of life
41
42. 42
1. Body
Intervertebral disc
2. Transverse process
3. foramen transversarium
Vertebral vein only
4. superior Articular facet
5. post. Lamina
Ligamentum flava
6. Pedicle
7. Spine (long & not bifid)
Interspinous ligament
Ligamantum nuchae (tip)
8. Vertebral canal
Spinal cord
7
6
2 2
4
3 3
5
5
1
8
5
6
7th Cervical Vertebrae
43. Conclusion 43
Characteristics C3-c6 c1 c2 c7
Body
Ant arch
Post arch
Spinous process Bifid No Bifid Single long
Superior
articular facet
Bean shaped Bean shaped oval Bean shaped
