Cervical Anatomy

Anatomy of the Cervical SpinePhysician NamePhysician InstitutionDate

Cervical Spine AnatomyPrimary functionMobility, support, and protection of spinal canal and neural structures

Cervical Spine AnatomyVertebrae (7)Intervertebral discs (6) Pairs of exiting nerve roots (8)

Cervical lordosis Occ-C7 averages 40Most of the lordosis occurs at the C1-C2 segment

Cervical Spine AnatomyApproximately 50% of flexion-extension motion occurs at occiput-C1Approximately 50% of rotation occurs at C1-C2Lesser amounts of flexion-extension, rotation, and lateral bending occur segmentally between C2-C7

Cervical Spine Anatomy

Cervical Spine AnatomyAtypical vertebral structure C1 (atlas)Vertebral canal/foramenAnterior arch Anterior tubercleTransverse processPosterior archTransverse foramen Lateral massSuperiorInferior

Cervical Spine AnatomyOcciput-C1 segmentThe occiput-C1 joints are synovial joints comprising the convex occipital condyles, which articulate with the concave lateral masses of C1

Cervical Spine AnatomyOcciput-C1 segmentMotion at the occiput-C1 segment is restricted primarily to flexion-extension due to bony structures, ligamentous constraints, and the absence of an intervertebral disc

Cervical Spine AnatomyAtypical cervical vertebra C2 (axis)Odontoid process or densVertebral canal/foramen Facet jointsTransverse processTransverse foramen Bifid spinous processLaminaanterior viewposterior view

Cervical Spine AnatomyThe odontoid process of the axis (C2) extends cranially to form the axis of rotation with atlas (C1)

Cervical Spine AnatomyC1-C2 segmentThe primary motion at the C1-C2 joint is rotation

Cervical Spine AnatomyC1-C2 segmentThe primary motion at the C1-C2 joint is rotation

Cervical Spine AnatomyLigamentsThe cervical spine also features a complex arrangement of ligaments to supplement its structure and mobility

Cervical Spine AnatomyLigamentsAnterior longitudinal ligamentPosterior longitudinal ligamentLigamentum flavumIntertransverse ligamentsInterspinous ligamentsLigamentum nuchae

Cervical Spine AnatomyLigamentsAnterior longitudinal ligamentPosterior longitudinal ligamentLigamentum flavumIntertransverse ligamentsInterspinous ligamentsLigamentum nuchae

Cervical Spine AnatomyLigamentsAnterior longitudinal ligamentPosterior longitudinal ligamentLigamentum flavumIntertransverse ligamentsInterspinous ligamentsLigamentum nuchae

Cervical Spine AnatomyLigamentsAnterior longitudinal ligamentPosterior longitudinal ligamentLigamentum flavumIntertransverse ligamentsInterspinous ligamentsLigamentum nuchae

Cervical Spine AnatomyLigamentsAnterior longitudinal ligamentPosterior longitudinal ligamentLigamentum flavumIntertransverse ligamentsInterspinous ligamentsLigamentum nuchae

Cervical Spine AnatomyLigamentsAnterior longitudinal ligamentPosterior longitudinal ligamentLigamentum flavumIntertransverse ligaments Interspinous ligamentsLigamentum nuchae

Cervical Spine Anatomy Neural elements8 pair of cervical nervesExit the spinal canal superior to the vertebrae for which they are numberedC1 nerves exit the canal between Occ & C1C2 nerves exit the canal between C1 & C2C8 nerves exit the canal between C7 & T1

Cervical Spine Anatomy ArteriesCarotid arteriesLocated anterior and bilateral to the spineVertebral arteriesEnter the transverse foramen at C6 and continue through C1

Cervical Spine Anatomy VeinsJugular veinsLocated bilateral and anterior to the spine.Vertebral veinsLocated within the transverse foramen of C1-C7

Cervical Spine AnatomyNeural and Circulatory Elements