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Msk Spine > (4.2) Functional Anatomy of the Cervical Spine > Flashcards

(4.2) Functional Anatomy of the Cervical Spine Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe the anatomy of the cervical spine

A
  • 7 vertebrae
  • Cervical lordosis
  • Smallest & most mobile vertebrae
  • C1 called Atlas
  • C2 called Axis
  • Designed for motion, positioning of eyes, ears and nose
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2
Q

Describe the anatomy of C1 (Atlas)

A
  • Supports the head
  • Articulates superiorly occiput & inferiorly with Axis
  • No vertebral body, spinous process or discs
  • Ring-like
  • Large transverse process with transverse foramen
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3
Q

Describe the anatomy of C2 (Axis)

A
  • pivot on which C1 & the head rotates
  • Dens projects superiorly from body
  • Anterior facet articulates with atlas
  • Sup articular facets articulate with inf facets atlas
  • Inferior facets articulate with sup facets C3
  • Large prominent spinous process
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4
Q

What are the upper cervical ligaments?

A
  • Anterior/Posterior atlanto-occipital
  • Tectorial membrane
  • Apical
  • Alar
  • Transverse of atlas
  • Accessory atlanto-axial
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5
Q

Where is the Anterior/Posterior atlanto-occipital ligament?

A

extend b/t occiput and arches of atlas

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6
Q

Where is the Tectorial membrane ligament?

A

Connects the posterior body of axis to occiput

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7
Q

Where is the Apical ligament?

A

It is a short & thick ligament that stretches from the tip of the dens to the foramen magnum

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8
Q

What does the alar ligament do?

A
  • obliquely upwards from apex of dens to occipital condyles
  • limits contralateral rotation
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9
Q

Where is the accessory atlanto-axial ligament do?

A

Upwards/laterally from base of dens to lateral mass of atlas

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10
Q

What does the transverse ligament of the atlas do?

A
  • passes b/t medial tubercles of atlas
  • holds odontoid in place
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11
Q

Describe the atlanto-occipital joint

A
  • pivot joint
  • articulation b/t superior art facets of atlas and occipital condyles skull
  • ball and socket synovial joint
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12
Q

What are the movements of the atlanto-occipital joint?

A
  • Flexion (10 degrees)
  • Extension (20 degrees)
  • Lateral flexion (15-20 degrees)
  • Rotation (10-14 degrees)
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13
Q

Describe the atlanto-axial joint (C1/2)

A
  • most mobile segment in spine
  • 3 synovial joints
  • one central atlanto-odontoid joint (double joint)
  • two lateral atlanto-axial joints (plane joints)
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13
Q

Describe the anatomy of C3-7

A
  • Typical
  • Anterior body
  • Posterior arch formed by pedicles, articular processes, lamina and spinous processes
  • Sup & inf articular processes
  • Transverse processes
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14
Q

What are the ligaments in C3-7?

A
  • Anterior longitudinal
  • Posterior longitudinal
  • Ligamentum flavum
  • Ligamentum nuchae
  • Interspinous
  • Intertransverse
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15
Q

What is the function of the intervertebral disc?

A
  • allows relative motion between vertebral bodies
  • absorbs, transmits load
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16
Q

Describe the anatomy of intervertebral discs

A
  • largely avascular
  • innervated by sinuvertebral nerve
  • nutrition by metabolite diffusion
  • named by the vertebral bodies above/below
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17
Q

Describe the cervical spinal nerves

A
  • 8 pairs
  • nerve roots exit via intervertebral foramina
  • cranial nerves numbered by vertebra below (except C8)
  • opposite to L and T spine
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18
Q

What action do nerve roots C1-C2 innervate?

A

Chin tuck

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19
Q

What action do the nerve root C5 innervate?

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A

Shoulder abduction

19
Q

What action do nerve root C3 innervate?

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A

Head side flexion

20
Q

What action do nerve root C4 innervate?

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A

Shoulder elevation

21
Q

What actions does the nerve root C6 innervate?

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A

Elbow flexion and wrist extension

21
Q

What action does the nerve root C8 innervate?

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A

Thumb extension

22
What action does the nerve root C7 innervate?
Elbow extension & wrist flexion
23
24
What action does the nerve root T1 innervate?
Finger abduction/adduction
24
What nerve is responsible for the bicep jerk reflex?
C6
25
What nerve is responsible for the triceps jerk reflex?
C7
26
What is the brachial plexus?
- network spinal nerves supplying UL - Originates C5-T1 spinal nerves - 5 roots, 3 trunks, 6 divisions, 3 cords, 5 terminal branches
26
What are the nerves branching from the brachial plexus?
- musculotaneous - axillary - radial - median - ulnar
27
Sternocleidomastoid
- 2 heads - O: Sternum + medial clavicle - I: Mastoid process, nuchal line - A: lateral flexion, contralateral rotation, flex mid lower C-spine, extend upper C-spine
28
Anterior Scalene
- O: anterior tubercles T-pro C3-6 - I: 1st rib - A: lateral flex, contra rotation, flexion
29
Medius Scalene
- O: posterior tubercles of T-pro C2-7 - I: 1st rib - A: lat flex, flexion
30
Posterior Scalene
- O: posterior tubercles of T-pro C4-6 - I: 2nd rib - A: lateral flexion
31
Longus Colli
O: - Superior: ant tubercles T-pro C3-C5 - Intermediate: ant surface C5-T3 - Inferior: ant surface T1-T3 I: - Superior: ant tubercle C1 - Intermediate: ant surface C2-C4 - Inferior: ant tubercles T-pro C5-C6
32
Longus Capitus
- O: ant tubercle T-pro C3-6 - I: Occiput - A: flex upper cranio-cervical region
33
Rectus Capitus Anterior & Lateralis
- O: T-pro axis - I: Occiput & occipital condyle - A: Flex & Lateral Flex
34
Splenius Cervicis
- O: Spinous process T3-6 - I: Posterior tubercles t-pro C1-3 - A: Lat flex, ipsilateral rotation, extension
35
Splenius Capitis
- O: Lower ligamentum nuchae + spinous process C7-T4 - I: Mastoid process - A: Lat flex, ipsilateral rotation, extension
35
Suboccipital muscles
- Attach b/t atlas, axis & occiput - Fine-tuned head movement
35
What are the muscles of the Erector Spinae?
- Spinalis cervicis - Spinalis capitis - Longissimus cervicis - Longissimus capitis - Iliocostalis cervicis * All lat flex, rotation, extension
36
What are the Transversospinal muscles?
- Semispinalis capitis - Semispinalis cervicis * More finely contolled mvmt
37
Upper Trapezius
- O: Occiput, ligamentum nuchae, S-pro C7 - I: Lateral 1/3rd clavicle - A: Elevate and stabilize scapula, head and neck extension, lat flexion
38
Levator Scapula
- O: T-pro C1-4 - I: Medial border of scapula - A: Stabilize scapula, head and neck extension, lateral flex, rotation
39
What are the interbody vertebral joints?
- From C2-3 down - Fibrocartilaginous - AF/NP change response to motion/load
40
What are uncovertebral joints?
- small synovial - C3-7 - reinforce disc postero-laterally - prevent posterior translation - allow flexion & extension
41
What are facet joints?
- aka zygapophyseal - formed superior and inferior facets - orientated 45 degree angle - as descends facets face more vertically (less rotation)

Msk Spine (9 decks)

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