Craniovertebral Joints

Question 1

Which joint contributes to nodding movement, tilting of head side-to-side?

Answer 1

Atlanta-occipital joint

Question 2

Which joint contributes to rotation movement?

Answer 2

Atlanta-axial joint

Question 3

What type of joint are the atlanto-occipital and Atlanta-axial?

Answer 3

synovial joints with no discs

Question 4

What makes up the atlantoaxial joint?

Answer 4

ant arch of C1 and dens of C2

Question 5

what makes up the Atlanta-occipital joint?

Answer 5

occipital condyles and superior facets of C1

Question 6

What type of ROM is the Atlanta-occipital joint?

Answer 6

flexion/extension

Question 7

What is the superior extension of the posterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 7

tectorial membrane

Question 8

What is the superior extension of anterior longitudinal ligament?

Answer 8

ant atlanto-occipital membrane

Question 9

What is the uppermost extent of ligamentum flavum?

Answer 9

post Atlanta-occipital mem

Question 10

What forms part of the post wall of vertebral canal?

Answer 10

post atlanto-occipital mem

Question 11

What fills in the gaps between post vertebral arches?

Answer 11

ligamentum flava

Question 12

What are the deep craniovertebral ligaments?

Answer 12

transverse ligament of atlas
cruciform ligament of atlas
alar ligaments
apical ligament of dens

Question 13

What holds the dens of axis tightly to ant arch of atlas?

Answer 13

transverse ligament of atlas

Question 14

Where do fractures of the dens occur? Why don’t they reunite?

Answer 14

base of transverse ligament of atlas, fractures don’t reunite due to position of transverse ligament

Question 15

What forms the cruciform ligament?

Answer 15

transverse ligament of atlas and superior and inferior longitudinal bands

Question 16

Where does sup longitudinal band attach?

Answer 16

foramen magnum base

Question 17

Where does inf longitudinal band attach?

Answer 17

dens of C2 posteriorly

Question 18

where does alar ligament extend?

Answer 18

from dens to medial portions of occipital condyles

Question 19

What is the function of alar ligament?

Answer 19

stop excessive lateral rotation, strong paired ligament

Question 20

What is the slender band ascending from apex of dens?

Answer 20

apical ligament of dens

Question 21

Which ligament is located deep to sup longitudinal band of cruciform ligament?

Answer 21

apical ligament of dens

Question 22

What gives rise to internal carotid plexus?

Answer 22

sympathetic trunk

Question 23

What hangs from pharyngeal tubercle?

Answer 23

pharynx

Question 24

Which nerves give rise to sup and inf ganglia?

Answer 24

CNs IX and X

Question 25

Which m does CN IX travel with?

Answer 25

stylopharyngeus m between ICA and ECA

Question 26

What branches does CN X give off?

Answer 26

pharyngeal n and superior laryngeal n

Question 27

What does pharyngeal n travel between?

Answer 27

ICA and ECA to innervate pharynx

Question 28

Which nerves form pharyngeal plexus?

Answer 28

union of pharyngeal brs of CN IX and X

Question 29

Which CN contributes sensory fibers to plexus?

Answer 29

CN IX

Question 30

Which CN supplies motor innervation to most pharyngeal mm and carries p-symp?

Answer 30

CN X

Question 31

What mm does accessory n supply?

Answer 31

SCM and trapezius mm

Question 32

Where does CN XI travel?

Answer 32

between ICA and IJV

Question 33

What is located between buccopharyngeal fascia and alar fascia?

Answer 33

retropharyngeal space

Question 34

Where does retropharyngeal space extend?

Answer 34

from base of skull to sup mediastinum

Question 35

What structures are found in the pre-vertebral region?

Answer 35

sympathetic trunks, CNs IX, X, XI, XII, cervical spinal nn, vertebral vessels, pharyngeal plexus of vv

Question 36

Which nerves make uo the cervical plexus? post to longs capitis/colli mm

Answer 36

C1-C4

Question 37

Which nn form phrenic n? descend ant to anterior scalene mm

Answer 37

C3-C5

Question 38

Which nn form brachial plexus? run between ant and middle scalene mm

Answer 38

C5-C8

Question 39

Where does vertebral a arise?

Answer 39

subclavian a

Question 40

Where does vertebral v drain?

Answer 40

brachiocephalic v

Question 41

What are the 2 pharyngeal plexuses of vv?

Answer 41

external plexus and internal plexus

Question 42

Where is the external pharyngeal plexus?

Answer 42

outside of pharyngobasilar fascia

Question 43

Where is the internal pharyngeal plexus?

Answer 43

between pharyngobasilar fascia and constrictor mm

Question 44

where do external and internal plexus drain?

Answer 44

into pterygoid plexus of vv and IJV at angle of mandible