B. Atypical Cerival Vertebrae: C1/Atlas Flashcards Preview

Spinal Anatomy Palmer College of Chiropractic > B. Atypical Cerival Vertebrae: C1/Atlas > Flashcards

Flashcards in B. Atypical Cerival Vertebrae: C1/Atlas Deck (44)
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1
Q

What is the name for the first cervical vertebrae?

A

atlas

2
Q

What features are lacking at C1?

A

vertebral body, pedicles, a spinous process and the intervertebral disc

3
Q

What osseous modification is observed to the front of the anterior arch of C1?

A

anterior tubercle

4
Q

What muscle attaches to the anterior arch of C1?

A

longus colli

5
Q

What ligaments will attach to the anterior arch of C1?

A

the anterior-longitudinal, anterior atlanto-occipital and anterior atlanto-axial ligaments

6
Q

What is observed on the back of the anterior arch of C1?

A

the fovea dentis

7
Q

What is the morphology of the superior articular facet of C1?

A

they are elliptical, closer together in front and often demonstrate an elevation subdividing the facet surface into two separate surfaces

8
Q

What is the orientation of the superior articular facet of C1?

A

backward, upward, medial (BUM)

9
Q

What is the joint classification of the atlanto-occipital zygaophophysis?

A

synovial (diarthrosis) ellipsoidal joint

10
Q

What are the morphological characteristics of the inferior articular facet of C1?

A

asymmetrical, slightly concave or flattened

11
Q

What is the orientation of the inferior articular facet of C1?

A

backward, medial, downward (BMD)

12
Q

What is the name of the rounded elevation on the medial aspect of the lateral mass of C1?

A

tubercle for the transverse atlantal ligament

13
Q

What muscles attach to the lateral mass of C1?

A

levator scapula, splenius cervicis, and rectus capitis anterior

14
Q

What part of C1 represents the spinous process?

A

posterior tubercle of the posterior arch

15
Q

What is the distance from the posterior tubercle of the posterior arch to the skin in each gender?

A

males: about 50 mm
females: about 37 mm

16
Q

What attaches to the posterior tubercle of the posterior arch of C1?

A

rectus capitis posterior minor muscle and ligamentum nuchae

17
Q

What superior surface modifications of the posterior arch of C1 are present?

A

groove/sulcus for the vertebral artery and arcuate rim

18
Q

What are the attachment sites of the posterior atlanto-occipital ligament?

A

it is attached to the arcuate rim of the posterior arch of atlas, to superior articular process of the lateral mass of atlas and to the posterior margin of the foramen magnum of the occipital bone

19
Q

What is the earliest age of development of the anterior free margin of the posterior atlanto-occipital ligament was observed?

A

about age 7 years old

20
Q

Based on the amount of ossification of the anterior free margin of the posterior atlanto-occipital ligament what structures will form?

A

an incomplete/complete ponticulus posticus

21
Q

What other name may be used to identify a ponticulus posticus?

A

Kimmerle’s anomaly

22
Q

What names are given to the opening formed by the ponticulus posticus?

A

arcuate foramen or retroarticular canal

23
Q

Ponticulus posticus has observed in what ethnic populations?

A

all ethnic populations studied thus far

24
Q

What is the general range of incidence of ponticulus posticus in the populations studied?

A

1-41%

25
Q

What is the gender bias now associated with ponticulus posticus?

A

female

26
Q

What is the incidence of a complete ponticulus posticus versus and incomplete ponticulus posticus?

A

the incidence of a complete ponticulus posticus is about 15%; the incidence of an incomplete ponticulus posticus may be as high as 41%

27
Q

What is observed on the undersurface of the posterior arch of C1?

A

inferior vertebral notch and an attachment site for the posterior atlanto-axial ligament

28
Q

What is the location of the zygapophysis relative to the atlanto-occipital and atlanto-axial intervertebral foramina?

A

it forms part of the anterior boundary of the intervertebral foramen in both cases

29
Q

What is the general appearance of the transverse process of C1?

A

triangular

30
Q

What are the osseous parts of the transverse process of C1?

A

costal element, posterior tubercle, true transverse process

31
Q

What osseous parts of the transverse process are absent at C1?

A

anterior tubercle and costotransverse bar

32
Q

What muscles attach to the transverse process of C1?

A

rectus capitis anterior, rectus capitis lateralis, middle scalene, levator scapula, splenius cervicis, obliquus capitis superior, obliquus capitis inferior and intertransversarii mucles

33
Q

What suboccipital muscles are known to have fascial projections attaching to the spinal dura?

A

rectus capitis posterior minor, rectus capitis posterior major, obliquus capitis inferior

34
Q

What are the connections between suboccipital muscles and the spinal dura called?

A

myodural bridges

35
Q

What are the lateral bridges of atlas connected to?

A

the lateral mass and transverse process of atlas

36
Q

What forms of the lateral bridges are observed in the population?

A

incomplete lateral bridges and complete lateral bridges

37
Q

What opening is identified when a complete lateral bridge is formed?

A

the retrotransverse foramen

38
Q

What are the possible contents of the retrotransverse foramen?

A

the vertebral artery, a branch from the suboccipital nerve and veins communicating with the venous sinuses of the neck

39
Q

What is observed in the transverse foramen of C1?

A

vertebral artery, vertebral venous plexus, postganglionic sympathetic motor nerve fibers

40
Q

What is the gender variation for measurments of the transverse diameter of C1?

A

Male: 78 mm
Female: 72mm

41
Q

Is there a gender variation for the distance from the posterior tubercle of the transverse process of C1 to the skin?

A

not a significant difference

42
Q

What is the distance from the posterior tubercle of the transverse process of C1 to the skin for each gender?

A

a little over 30 mm for both males and females

43
Q

How many synovial joint surfaces are observed at C1?

A

five

44
Q

What synovial joint surfaces are observed at C1?

A

two superior articular facets, two inferior articular facets, and the fovea dentis