Cervical Hints

By Omnya Mahrous

2023
 Function
The cervical spine’s major
functions include:
supporting and promoting
the movement of the
head/neck.
Allowing for rotation, and
protecting the spinal cord.
subjected to extrinsic
factors (repeated
movements, body
vibrations and static load).
Bony components
Atlas (C1)
Posterior arch
Transverse
process
Vertebral
foramen

Superior
Transverse
articular facet
Anterior arch foramen
Axis (C2) https://youtube.com/shorts/bWEjwEaCLws?si=cJ-6Uo4MaRu698f4

Superior Dens
articular
odontoid process
facet

Transverse
process
Lamina
Transverse
Foramen
Spinous process
 Features
The cervical vertebrae have three main
features which distinguish them from
other vertebrae:

Triangular vertebral foramen.

Bifid spinous process.
Transverse foramina. They give
passage to the vertebral artery,
vein and sympathetic nerves.
 Intervertebral Disc
The intervertebral discs hight at birth represent 1/3 of the spinal length.
At the age of 7 years it present 1/5 of the spinal length.
At the age of 30 and over the nucleus palposus of the intervertebral discs dries out
by firm fibrocartelegnous plate.
The superior surface of the disk is concave
and the inferior surface is convex.
The disks are thicker anteriorly than
posteriorly.
The uncinate Process limits the movment in
the cronal plane, prevent posterolateral disc
herniations.
The disks allow some anteroposterior
translation.
The ALL and the (PLL) are confluent with the
outer fibers of the annulus
Joints
 Unique cervical joints
Uncovertebral joints ( small synovial articulations unique to the cervical spine);
between the five lower cervical vertebral bodies. They are located
anteromedially to the mixed nerve root and posteromedially to the vertebral
artery, vein, and sympathetics as these pass through the vertebral foramen.

Luschka joints
 The atlanto-axial (x3);
▪︎ Lateral atlanto-axial joints (x2) –
formed by the articulation between the
inferior facets of the lateral masses of C1
and the superior facets of C2. These are
plane type synovial joints.
▪︎ Medial atlanto-axial joint – formed
by the articulation of the dens of C2 with
the articular facet of C1. This is a pivot type
synovial joint.

https://www.spine- Transvers ligament

health.com/video/spinal-motion-segment-
c1-c2-atlantoaxial-joint-animation
The atlanto-occipital joints consist of an articulation between the
spine and the cranium. They occur between then superior facets of
the lateral masses of the atlas and the occipital condyles at the
base of the cranium. These are condyloid type synovial joints, and
permit flexion at the head i.e. nodding.

https://youtu.be/Ocp5XGW3z4k?si=mLi0edQIFp-8isq7
 Present throughout Vertebral Column
1-Disc Joint:
Cartilaginous joint ( symphysis) found bbetween adjacent vertebral bodies.

The disc joint itself has three major functions:

▪︎Bears the weight of the body above it.
▪︎The intervertebral discs help to absorb shock.
▪︎The increasing size of the vertebral bodies and the discs attached to them.
*The disc joint’s thickness allows for a great deal of motion.
* The intervertebral discs comprise 25% of the height of the entire spine.
In the cervical spine, they total 40% of its height.
The greater the relative height of the discs compared to vertebral body height,
the greater the possible motion at that region of the spine.
 Present throughout Vertebral Column
2-Facet joint ( zygapophyseal joint, z joint):
Facet joints determine the direction of motion that can occur on that joint.
At the upper cervical spine, the facets is perfectly horizontal in the transverse
plane.
Descending the cervical spine, the orientation of the facets gradually
transition to be more vertical in the frontal plane. As a general rule, the plane
of the cervical facets is usually considered to be an oblique plane with an
approximately 45-degree angle between the transverse and frontal planes.
This angle is often compared to that of the slope of a roof. The type of motion
best afforded at each vertebral segmental joint level is important to know and
understand when performing joint mobilization

https://youtu.be/salgiTvHxyI?si=h8JkVfRjVPGe_sTl
Present throughout Vertebral Column
Present throughout Vertebral Column
 Ligaments
● Unique to Cervical Spine
▪︎ Nuchal ligament – a
continuation of the supraspinous
ligament. It attaches to the tips of
the spinous processes from C1-C7,
and provides the proximal
attachment for the rhomboids and
trapezius.
▪︎ Transverse ligament of the
atlas – connects the lateral masses
of the atlas, and in doing so
anchors the dens in place.
Transvers ligament
Ligaments
Thank You
Omnia.mahros@gmail.com

Dr.omnia mahros

01115174272