Cervical Spine: Anatomy

Question 1

% of pt with neck pain that develop chronic symptoms

Answer 1

30%

Question 2

Vertebral artery: where does it branch from?

Answer 2

from the posterior/superior portion of the subclavian artery

Question 3

Where does the vertebral artery enter the transverse foramen?

Answer 3

C6

Question 4

Where does the vertebral artery exit?

Answer 4

C1 transverse foramen

Question 5

After exiting the C1 transverse foramen, the vertebral artery wraps around

Answer 5

posterior arch of C1

Question 6

Vertebral artery: What does it become proximally?

Answer 6

basilar artery

Question 7

Vertebral artery: travels through these to become the basilar artery

Answer 7

OA membrane

foramen magnum

Question 8

Cervical facet joints are __˚ in this plane

Answer 8

45˚ in the frontal plane

Question 9

Uncinate process run from

Answer 9

C2-3 to C7-T1

Question 10

uncinate processes limit this motion

Answer 10

sidebending

Question 11

uncinate processes help guide these movements

Answer 11

flexion/extension

Question 12

uncinate processes help prevent disc herniations from protruding in these directions

Answer 12

posterior/lateral

Question 13

uncinate processes often show signs of

Answer 13

degeneration

Question 14

Alar ligament attaches where

Answer 14

dorsolateral surface of the dens to occipital condyles

Question 15

alar ligament: resists these motions

Answer 15

flexion

CL sidebending/rotation

Question 16

L alar ligament resists (R/L) lateral flexion and (R/L) rotation

Answer 16

R lateral flexion

R rotation

Question 17

What is the key ligament for stabilizing C1-2?

Answer 17

alar ligament

Question 18

This ligament holds the dens against C1

Answer 18

transverse ligament

Question 19

Transverse ligament: prevents this motion at C1

Answer 19

anterior translation

Question 20

alar ligament: attaches where?

Answer 20

lateral masses of atlas

Question 21

If this ligament is injured, AA instability will exist

Answer 21

transverse ligament

Question 22

What does the suboccipital triangle do?

Answer 22

fine tuning of positional changes

Question 23

What are the deep cervical stabilizers?

Answer 23

• longus colli
• longus capitus
• rectus capitus anterior and lateralis

Question 24

Major muscle groups of the neck

Answer 24

• suboccipital triangle
• deep cervical stabilizers
• scalenes

Question 25

resting position of the neck

Answer 25

midway between flexion and extension

Question 26

close packed position of the neck

Answer 26

full extension

Question 27

capsular pattern of the neck

Answer 27

• sidebending and rotation equally limited

- extension

Question 28

The (superior aspect) atlas has two ellipsoid concave joint surfaces that face these directions

Answer 28

medial

superior

Question 29

The occiput has two convex jt surfaces that face these directions

Answer 29

lateral

inferior

Question 30

OA joint: how many degrees of motion

Answer 30

2

Question 31

OA joint: Amt of flex/ext

Answer 31

15-20˚

Question 32

OA joint: Amt of sidebending

Answer 32

10˚

Question 33

OA joint: Amt of rotation

Answer 33

negligible

Question 34

OA joint: flexion arthrokinematics

Answer 34

condyles glide posterior and superior on C1

Question 35

OA joint: extension arthrokinematics

Answer 35

condyles glide anterior and inferior on C1

Question 36

OA joint: R sidebending arthrokinematics

R occiput

Answer 36

MIA (medial, inferior, anterior)

Question 37

OA joint: R sidebending arthrokinematics

L occiput

Answer 37

LPS (lateral, posterior, superior)

Question 38

Mnemonic for remembering OA sidebend arthrokinematics

Answer 38

MIA has nice LiPS

Question 39

AA joint: inferior articular surfaces are (shape)

Answer 39

bi-convex

Question 40

AA joint: superior articular surfaces of C2 are (shape)

Answer 40

bi-convex

but bi-concave due to cartilage

Question 41

AA joint: How many degrees of movement?

Answer 41

2

Question 42

AA joint: planes of movement

Answer 42

transverse plane

sagittal plane