Cervical Vertebrae

This article is a stub.

Regions

There are two contrasting areas, the upper occipito-atlanto-axial joint complex, and the sub-axial spine.

• Upper occipito-atlanto-axial joint complex
  • Multiple synovial joints with strong transverse and alar ligaments provide about half of total movements
  • Movements: C0-1 - nutation, C1-2 - rotation
  • Nerve roots: C1 nerve sits under the vertebral artery, C2 nerve root sits with veins.
  • They are well preserved in older subjects
• Sub-axial spine; discs, and zygapophyseal joints.
  • Uncovertebral clefts
  • 45 degree facet joints, allows for flexion and extension but not much rotation
  • Oblique, antero-lateral course of nerve roots
  • Vertebral arteries in foramina transversaria.
  • Small anterior muscles, large posterior muscles. Therefore vulnerable to extension trauma.

Cervical Disc

The cervical disc is not a small lumbar disc, but is structurally unique. The annulus is not concentric, but rather is only well developed at the anterior aspect. The collagen fibres form a thick crescentic mass anteriorly and taper laterally towards the uncinate processes. Posteriorly there is only a thin layer of paramedian, vertically oriented collagen fibres, and it is reinforced by the posterior longitudinal ligament. The cervical annulus is more like an interosseous ligament which is not load bearing.