Cervical region - Atlas/C1

Question 1

What is the name of the first cervical vertebrae?

Answer 1

atlas

Question 2

What features are lacking at C1?

Answer 2

vertebral body, pedicles, a spinous process and the intervertebral disc

Question 3

What muscles attaches to the anterior arch of C1?

Answer 3

longus colli

Question 4

What ligaments will attach to the anterior arch of C1?

Answer 4

the anterior longitudinal, anterior atlanto-occipital and anterior atlanto-axial ligaments

Question 5

What is observed on the back of the anterior arch of C1?

Answer 5

the fovea dentis

Question 6

What is the morphology of the superior articular facet of C1?

Answer 6

they are elliptical, close together in front and often demonstrate an elevation subdividing the facet surface into two separate surfaces

Question 7

what is the orientation of the superior articular facet of C1?

Answer 7

backward, upward, medial (BUM)

Question 8

What are the morphological characteristics of the inferior articular facet of C1?

Answer 8

asymmertical, slightly concave or flattened

Question 9

What is the orientation of the inferior articular facet of C1?

Answer 9

backward, medial, downward (BMD)

Question 10

What muscles attach to the lateral mass of C1?

Answer 10

levator scapula, splenius vervicis and rectus capitis anterior

Question 11

What attaches to the posterior tubercle of the posterior arch of C1?

Answer 11

rectus capitis posterior minor muscle and ligamentum nuchae

Question 12

What superior surface modifications of the posterior arch of C1 are present?

Answer 12

groove/sulcus for the vertebral artery and arcuate rim

Question 13

What attaches to ther arcuate rim of C1?

Answer 13

the posterior atlanto-occipital ligament

Question 14

Ossification of the free margin of the posterior atlanto-occipital ligament results in which atypical bone classification?

Answer 14

accessory bone

Question 15

What is the earliest age of development where ossification of the anterior free margin of the posterior atlanto-occipital ligament was observed?

Answer 15

about age 7 years old

Question 16

What may be formed by ossification of the anterior free margin of the posterior atalanto-occipital ligament?

Answer 16

a partial ponticulus posticus or complete ponticulus posticus

Question 17

What forms the types of ponticulus posticus?

Answer 17

ossification of the anterior free margin of the posterior atlanto-occipital ligament

Question 18

What other names may be used to identify a ponticulus posticus?

Answer 18

Kimmerle’s anomaly

Question 19

What names are given to the opening formed by the ponticulus posticus??

Answer 19

arcuate foramen or retroarticular canal

Question 20

Ponticulus posticus has observed in what ethnic populations?

Answer 20

all ethnic populations studied thus far

Question 21

What is the general range of incidence of ponticulus posticus in the populations studied?

Answer 21

1%-41%

Question 22

What is the gender bias now associated with ponticulus posticus?

Answer 22

female

Question 23

What joint classification(s) may be observed on the posterior artch of C1?

Answer 23

fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis joint

Question 24

What are the osseous parts of the transverse process of C1?

Answer 24

costal element, posterior tubercle, true transverse process

Question 25

What osseous parts of the transverse process are absent at C1?

Answer 25

anterior tubercle and costotransverse bar

Question 26

What muscles attach to the transverse process of C1?

Answer 26

rectus capitis anterior, rectus capitis lateralis, middle scalene, levator scapula, splenius cervicis, obliquus capitis superior, obliquus capitis inferior and intertransversarii muscles

Question 27

What suboccipital muscles are known to have fascial projections attaching to the spinal dura?

Answer 27

rectus capitis posterior minor, rectus capitis posterior major, obliquus capitis inferior

Question 28

What are the connections between subocciptal muscles and the spinal dura called?

Answer 28

myodural bridges

Question 29

What are the lateral bridges of atlas connected to?

Answer 29

the lateral mass and the ytransverse process of atlas

Question 30

What opening is identified when a complete lateral bridge is formed

Answer 30

the retrotransverse foramen

Question 31

What are the possible contents of the retrotransverse foramen?

Answer 31

the vertebral artery, a branch from the suboccipital nerve and veins communicating with the venous sinuses of the neck

Question 32

Which of the ponticles (bridges) of atlas is only observed in humans?

Answer 32

lateral bridges

Question 33

What is observed in the transverse foramen of C1?

Answer 33

vertebral artery, vertebral venous plexus, postganglionic sympathetic motor nerve fibers

Question 34

What is the gender variation for measurements of the transverse diameter of C1?

Answer 34

males 78 millimeters and females: 72 millimeters

Question 35

What is the distance from the posterior tubercle of the transverse process of C1 to the skin for each gender?

Answer 35

a little over 30 millimeters for both male and females

Question 36

What joint classifications are observed at C1?

Answer 36

fibrous (amphiarthosis) syndesmosis joint, synovial (diarthrosis) ellipsoidal joint, synovial pivot (diarthosis trochoid) joint and synovial plane (diarthosis arthodia) joint

Question 37

How many synovial joint surfaces are observed at C1?

Answer 37

five

Question 38

What synovial joint surfaces are observed at C1?

Answer 38

two superior articular facets, two inferior articular facets and the fovea dentis