Transcript Anatomy of the Cervical Spine - All About Back and Neck Pain

Anatomy
of the Cervical Spine
Physician Name
Physician Institution
Date
Cervical Spine Anatomy
• Primary function
• Mobility, support, and
protection of spinal canal
and neural structures
Cervical Spine Anatomy
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2
• Vertebrae (7)
• Intervertebral discs (6)
• Pairs of exiting nerve
roots (8)
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4
5
6
7
• Cervical lordosis OccC7 averages 40°
• Most of the lordosis
occurs at the C1-C2
segment
Cervical Spine Anatomy
• Approximately 50% of
flexion-extension motion
occurs at occiput-C1
• Approximately 50% of
rotation occurs at C1-C2
• Lesser amounts of flexionextension, rotation, and
lateral bending occur
segmentally between C2-C7
Cervical Spine Anatomy
Cervical Spine Anatomy
Inferior
Superior
Occipital condyles
Foramen magnum
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Atypical vertebral
structure C1 (atlas)
Vertebral canal/foramen
Anterior arch
Anterior tubercle
Transverse process
Posterior arch
Transverse foramen
Lateral mass
Cervical Spine Anatomy
• Occiput-C1 segment
• The occiput-C1 joints
are synovial joints
comprising the convex
occipital condyles,
which articulate with
the concave lateral
masses of C1
Cervical Spine Anatomy
• Occiput-C1 segment
• Motion at the occiputC1 segment is
restricted primarily to
flexion-extension due
to bony structures,
ligamentous
constraints, and the
absence of an
intervertebral disc
Cervical Spine Anatomy
anterior view
posterior view
• Atypical cervical
• vertebra C2 (axis)
• Odontoid process or
dens
• Vertebral canal/foramen
• Facet joints
• Transverse process
• Transverse foramen
• Bifid spinous process
• Lamina
Cervical Spine Anatomy
• The odontoid process of
the axis (C2) extends
cranially to form the
axis of rotation with
atlas (C1)
Cervical Spine Anatomy
• C1-C2 segment
• The primary motion at
the C1-C2 joint
is rotation
Cervical Spine Anatomy
• C1-C2 segment
• The primary motion at
the C1-C2 joint
is rotation
Cervical Spine Anatomy
• Ligaments
• The cervical spine also
features a complex
arrangement of ligaments
to supplement its
structure and mobility
Cervical Spine Anatomy
• Ligaments
• Anterior longitudinal
ligament
• Posterior longitudinal
ligament
• Ligamentum flavum
• Intertransverse
ligaments
• Interspinous ligaments
• Ligamentum nuchae
Cervical Spine Anatomy
• Ligaments
• Anterior longitudinal
ligament
• Posterior
longitudinal ligament
• Ligamentum flavum
• Intertransverse
ligaments
• Interspinous ligaments
• Ligamentum nuchae
Cervical Spine Anatomy
• Ligaments
• Anterior longitudinal
ligament
• Posterior longitudinal
ligament
• Ligamentum flavum
• Intertransverse
ligaments
• Interspinous ligaments
• Ligamentum nuchae
Cervical Spine Anatomy
• Ligaments
• Anterior longitudinal
ligament
• Posterior longitudinal
ligament
• Ligamentum flavum
• Intertransverse
ligaments
• Interspinous ligaments
• Ligamentum nuchae
Cervical Spine Anatomy
• Ligaments
• Anterior longitudinal
ligament
• Posterior longitudinal
ligament
• Ligamentum flavum
• Intertransverse
ligaments
• Interspinous
ligaments
• Ligamentum nuchae
Cervical Spine Anatomy
• Ligaments
• Anterior longitudinal
ligament
• Posterior longitudinal
ligament
• Ligamentum flavum
• Intertransverse
ligaments
• Interspinous ligaments
• Ligamentum nuchae
Cervical Spine Anatomy
• Neural elements
• 8 pair of cervical
nerves
• Exit the spinal canal
superior to the
vertebrae for which
they are numbered
• C1 nerves exit the
canal between Occ
& C1
• C2 nerves exit the
canal between C1
& C2
• C8 nerves exit the
canal between C7
Cervical Spine Anatomy
• Arteries
• Carotid arteries
• Located anterior and
bilateral to the spine
• Vertebral arteries
• Enter the transverse
foramen at C6 and
continue through C1
Cervical Spine Anatomy
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Veins
• Jugular veins
• Located bilateral and
anterior to the spine.
• Vertebral veins
• Located within the
transverse foramen of
C1-C7
Cervical Spine Anatomy
Neural and Circulatory Elements