1. Anatomy of the Cervical Spine
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2. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Primary function
Mobility, support, and protection of spinal canal and neural structures

3. Cervical Spine Anatomy1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Vertebrae (7)
Intervertebral discs (6)
Pairs of exiting nerve roots (8)
Cervical lordosis Occ-C7 averages 40°
Most of the lordosis occurs at the C1-C2 segment

4. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Approximately 50% of flexion-extension motion occurs at occiput-C1
Approximately 50% of rotation occurs at C1-C2
Lesser amounts of flexion-extension, rotation, and lateral bending occur segmentally between C2-C7

5. Cervical Spine Anatomy

6. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Atypical vertebral
structure C1 (atlas)
Vertebral canal/foramen
Anterior arch
Anterior tubercle
Transverse process
Posterior arch
Transverse foramen
Lateral mass
Inferior
Superior
Occipital condyles
Foramen magnum

7. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Occiput-C1 segment
The occiput-C1 joints are synovial joints comprising the convex occipital condyles, which articulate with the concave lateral masses of C1

8. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Occiput-C1 segment
Motion at the occiput-C1 segment is restricted primarily to flexion-extension due to bony structures, ligamentous constraints, and the absence of an intervertebral disc

9. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Atypical cervical
vertebra C2 (axis)
Odontoid process or dens
Vertebral canal/foramen
Facet joints
Transverse process
Transverse foramen
Bifid spinous process
Lamina
anterior view
posterior view

10. Cervical Spine Anatomy
The odontoid process of the axis (C2) extends cranially to form the axis of rotation with atlas (C1)

11. Cervical Spine Anatomy
C1-C2 segment
The primary motion at the C1-C2 joint is rotation

12. Cervical Spine Anatomy
C1-C2 segment
The primary motion at the C1-C2 joint is rotation

13. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Ligaments
The cervical spine also features a complex arrangement of ligaments to supplement its structure and mobility

14. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Ligaments
Anterior longitudinal ligament
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Ligamentum flavum
Intertransverse ligaments
Interspinous ligaments
Ligamentum nuchae

15. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Ligaments
Anterior longitudinal ligament
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Ligamentum flavum
Intertransverse ligaments
Interspinous ligaments
Ligamentum nuchae

16. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Ligaments
Anterior longitudinal ligament
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Ligamentum flavum
Intertransverse ligaments
Interspinous ligaments
Ligamentum nuchae

17. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Ligaments
Anterior longitudinal ligament
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Ligamentum flavum
Intertransverse ligaments
Interspinous ligaments
Ligamentum nuchae

18. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Ligaments
Anterior longitudinal ligament
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Ligamentum flavum
Intertransverse ligaments
Interspinous ligaments
Ligamentum nuchae

19. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Ligaments
Anterior longitudinal ligament
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Ligamentum flavum
Intertransverse ligaments
Interspinous ligaments
Ligamentum nuchae

20. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Neural elements
8 pair of cervical nerves
Exit the spinal canal superior to the vertebrae for which they are numbered
C1 nerves exit the canal between Occ & C1
C2 nerves exit the canal between C1 & C2
C8 nerves exit the canal between C7 & T1

21. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Arteries
Carotid arteries
Located anterior and bilateral to the spine
Vertebral arteries
Enter the transverse foramen at C6 and continue through C1

22. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Veins
Jugular veins
Located bilateral and anterior to the spine.
Vertebral veins
Located within the transverse foramen of C1-C7

23. Cervical Spine Anatomy
Neural and Circulatory Elements