Cervical Vertebrae, Spine & Skull

Vertebral column

Typical vertebra

Superior & inferior articular facets zygapophyseal / facet joints

intervetebral disc allows secondary cartilaginous joints between vertebrae /

The cervical vertebrae

Triangular vertebral canal Foramen transversarium
Vertebral artery (from subclavian A) passes through these except for C7

Spinous processes short & bifid

Except C7 VERTEBRA PROMINENS very long & not bifid

Typical cervical vertebra

C1 Atlas
No body - anterior & posterior arches No spinous process Kidney shape facets superiorly for occipital condyles allows nodding of head up & down Groove for vertebral artery on upper surface

C2 - Axis
C1 rotates on C2 a pivot joint Superior articular surfaces for C1 to rotate Dens / odontoid process Ligaments
1. Transverse ligament of the atlas 2. Also a weaker longitudinal band from axis to basiocciput 1+2 = the cruciate ligament

3. Alar ligaments from the dens to occipital condyles limit rotation of the head

Joints in the vertebral column

Or Facet joints

Secondary cartilaginous joints / symphyses

Ligaments

Curvatures of the spine

Primary curvatures
Thoracic & sacral

Secondary curvatures
cervical & lumbar

Cervical enlargement

Lumbar enlargement Spinal cord ends at

L1/L2 adult
L3/L4 child

Subarachanoid space ends at S2

Filum terminale extension of pia mater to coccyx

8 pairs of cervical spinal nerves

31 pairs spinal nerves

8 cervical 12 thoracic 5 lumbar 5 sacral 1 coccygeal

Intervertebral foramina allow spinal

through

nerves & blood vessels to pass

Vertebral canal
Spinal cord
Surrounded by meninges
Pia mater Subarachnoid space CSF. Arachnoid mater Dura mater Extradural / epidural space containing loose connective tissue, fat & venous plexus

Arterial supply

1 x Anterior spinal artery

From the vertebral arteries

2 x Posterior spinal artery

From Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (PICA) Vert ASubclavian A

Segmental arteries. Come into vertebral foramina so supplu spinal cord. Artery of Adamkiewicz
thoracic or upper lumbar region lower

Veins
Drain in to the internal vertebral plexus in the extradural / epidural space Also communicates with intracranial veins

Suboccipital muscles important bcoz contraction extends the head at atlantoaxial joint
Innervation posterior ramus of C1

Greater occipital nerve

Dorsal ramus of C2 Large sensory nerve Passes up between suboccipital muscles Then supplies skin of back of head & scalp

Lumbar puncture
Position of patient??fetal Usually to gain specimen of CSF also others.must below the level of spinal cord. Contraindicated with raised intracranial pressure (ICP). Brain stem/medulla. sitting on top of the foramen magnum.conin Fetal position to split the vertebral bodies as fas as possible. Spinal cord ends in adults in children???? Layers passed skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, supraspinous ligs, interspinous ligs,+/-

Go raibh mle maith agaibh go lir