Atypical cervical vertebrae: C2/Axis/Epistropheus

Question 1

what names are given to C2?

Answer 1

axis or epistropheus

Question 2

what unique vertebral body modification is characteristic of C2?

Answer 2

dens or odontoid process

Question 3

how many joint surfaces are present on the odontoid process of C2?

Answer 3

5

Question 4

what joint surfaces are present on the odontoid process of C2?

Answer 4

facet for fovea dentis, groove for transverse atlantal ligament, attachment sites for the alar ligaments, attachement site for the apical-dental ligament

Question 5

which joint classifications are represented at the odontoid process of C2?

Answer 5

fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis joint and synovial pivot (diarthrosis trochoid) joint

Question 6

what is the name given to the odontoid process when the facet for the fovea dentis lies above the groove for the transverse atlantal ligament and the attachement sites for the apical-dental and alar ligaments appear to be directed posterior?

Answer 6

lordotic dens

Question 7

what is the name given to the odontoid process when the facet for the fovea dentis lies below the groove for the transverse atlantal ligament and the attachment sites for the apical-dental and alar ligaments appear to be directed anterior?

Answer 7

kyphotic dens

Question 8

what joint surfaces are present at the inferior part of the vertebral body of C2?

Answer 8

anterior lip, posterior lip, right and left lateral grooves and cancellous bone

Question 9

how many joints are formed by the inferior part of the vertebral body of C2?

Answer 9

5

Question 10

what joint classifications are present at the inferior part of the vertebral body of C2?

Answer 10

fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis, modified synovial saddle (diarthrosis sellar) and cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis

Question 11

how many joint surfaces are present at the vertebral body of C2?

Answer 11

10

Question 12

what joint classifications are present at the vertebral body of C2?

Answer 12

fibrous (amphiarthrosis) syndesmosis, synovial pivot (diarthrosis trochoid), modified synovial saddle (diarthrosis sellar) and cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) symphysis

Question 13

what ligament forms the anterior boundary for the spinal canal above C2?

Answer 13

membrana tectoria

Question 14

what ligament forms the anterior boundary for the spinal canal below C2?

Answer 14

posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 15

what lies on the upper surface of the pedicle of C2?

Answer 15

superior articular process

Question 16

what is the location of the superior vertebral notch of C2?

Answer 16

on the lamina-pedicle junction

Question 17

what attaches to the lamina of C2?

Answer 17

obliquus capitis inferior muscle, posterior atlanto-axial ligament, ligamentum flavum

Question 18

what is the appearance of the superior articular facet of C2?

Answer 18

asymmetrical and slightly convex

Question 19

what is the facet orientation of the superior articular facet of C2?

Answer 19

backward, upward, and lateral (BUL)

Question 20

what is the orientation of the inferior articular facets of C2?

Answer 20

forward, lateral, and down (FoLD)

Question 21

what is the classification of the zygapophyseal joints of C2?

Answer 21

synovial plane (diarthrosis arthrodia) joint

Question 22

what osseous parts of the typical cervical transverse process are present at C2?

Answer 22

costal element, posterior tubercle and true transverse process

Question 23

what is the gender variation for the transverse diameter of C2?

Answer 23

males: 57 millimeters; females: 50 millimeters

Question 24

what muscles attach to the transverse process at C2?

Answer 24

levator scapulae, middle scalene, splenius cervicis, longissimus cervicis and intertransversarii

Question 25

what muscles attach to the spinous process of C2?

Answer 25

rectus captitis posterior major, obliquus capitis inferior, spinalis cervicis, semispinalis cervicis, multifidus, rotators and interspinalis muscles