Cervical Vertebral Column

Question 1

What movement does the Anterior Longitudinal Ligament resist?

Answer 1

Extension

Question 2

What movement does the Posterior longitudinal ligament resist?

Answer 2

Flexion

Question 3

What movement does the interspinouns ligaments resist?

Answer 3

Flexion

Posterior translation

Question 4

What movement does the supraspinous ligament resist?

Answer 4

Flexion

Question 5

What movement does the Ligamentum Flavum resist?

Answer 5

Flexion

Contralateral Lateral Flexion

Question 6

What movement does the Transverse Ligament resist?

Answer 6

Holds dens in place

Resists anterior translation of C1 on C2

Question 7

What movement does the Alar Ligament resist?

Answer 7

Flexion

Anterior translation and axial rotation of C1 on C2

Question 8

What is the function of the superior and lateral costotransverse ligaments

Answer 8

stabilises the ribs

Question 9

What is the function of the radiate ligament

Answer 9

Stabilise ribs to vertebral body

Question 10

What does the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament continue as in the cervical spine?

Answer 10

Tectorial membrane

Question 11

What does the ligamentum flavum continue as in the cervical spine?

Answer 11

Posterior atlantoaxial

Posterior atlanto-occipital membrane

Question 12

What does the anterior longitudinal ligament continue as in the cervical spine?

Answer 12

Anterior atlantoaxial ligament

Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane

Question 13

What are the features of C1 (atlas)?

Answer 13

no vertebral body
thick lateral masses that have concave superior articular surfaces to accommodate the occipital condyles

inferior articular surfaces = convex

superior articular surfaces sloped medially and downward overhang groove for vertebral artery posteriorly

posterior arch has broad groove for vertebral artery and suboccipital nerve and is larger than anterior

anterior tubercle has a facet on its posterior aspect for a synovial articulation with the dens

vertebral foramen is large
long transverse process with foramen (palpate behind angle of mandible)

no spinous process

Question 14

What are the features of C2 (Axis)

Answer 14

odontoid process / dens with anterior and posterior articular facets for articulation with atlas

short transverse process with only one tubercle

superior articular facets convex

C2 nerve exits behind the C1/2 lateral atlantoaxial joint and does not groove the transverse process
C3 nerve exits via the C2/3 intervertebral foramen, anterior to the C2/3 zygapophyseal joint

Question 15

Describe what is meant by “coupled movements”

Answer 15

when a primary movement in 1 plane

is accompanied by an automatic movement in another plane.

Question 16

How does subaxial spine reflect coupled movement?

Answer 16

Axial rotation and lateral rotation are coupled movement

Inferior facets on side of lateral flexion slides inferiorly and posteriorly while the opposite side slides superiorly and anteriorly

Lateral flexion occurs in frontal plane while Axial rotation occurs in transverse plane

The facets are at 45 degrees,

Question 17

Describe the alignment of the zygapophysial joints in relation to the transverse and coronal plane

Answer 17

they are aligned at 45 degrees to the transverse and coronal planes

Question 18

How does zygapophysial joint alignment affect direction and range of movement in the subaxial cervical spine?

Answer 18

This alignment allows movements across 3 planes

Flexion-Extension in sagittal plane
Lateral flexion in frontal plane
Axial rotation in horizontal plane

The alignment of the cervical joint allows greater degree of axial rotation as compared to other regions like the lumbar spine.

Question 19

How does intervertebral disc height : vertebral body height affect vertebral motion segment mobility in the cervical spine?

Answer 19

The disc height and vertebral body height affects the degree of contact of the joint.

The smaller the ratio, the more stable/less mobile the joint is.

Question 20

What are uncinate processes?

Answer 20

Raised bony projections on the vertebral body that causes the superior surface of the vertebral body to be concave

Question 21

What impact on movement do the uncinate processes cause?

Answer 21

during F-E, limit lateral translation
limit LF, extension, axial rotation
contribute to axial rotation & lateral flexion coupling

Question 22

Why is the C2/C3 motion segment more stiff than the other segments?

Answer 22

C3 -transitional vertebrae
Superior facets are more vertical- not much rotation available

Limits flexion-extension range of motion that occurs as anterior and posterior translations are restricted

Question 23

Which 2 ligaments provide crucial stability to the cervical spine?

Answer 23

Transverse and alar ligaments

Question 24

What are the 3 synovial joints that make up the atlantoaxial joint?

Answer 24

1 median Atlantoaxial joint

2 lateral atlantoaxial joints

Question 25

What are the articulating surfaces of the median atlantoaxial joint?

Answer 25

Dens
Osseo-ligamentous ring
= anterior arch of c1+ transverse ligament

Question 26

What are the articulating surfaces of the lateral atlantoaxial joint?

Answer 26

convex articular facet of c1 and convex articular facet of c2