Structure and Function of the Cervical Spine

Original Editor - Shaimaa Eldib

Top Contributors - Shaimaa Eldib, Candace Goh, Kim Jackson, Admin, Lucinda hampton and Laura Ritchie

Introduction

The cervical spine (neck) starts at the base of skull and extends down to the thoracic spine. The neck joins head with trunk and limbs and it works as a major conduit for structures between them. Flexibility of neck movement allows and maximise necessary positions for head functions and its sensory organs. There are many important structures in the neck area such as nerves, muscles, arteries, veins, vertebrates, lymphatics, glands, oesophagus and trachea. Due to these important structures and lack of bony protection at the neck region, it is considered as an area of vulnerability. The main arterial blood supply for the head and neck are carotid arteries and the jugular veins are the principal venous drainage. These blood supplies are commonly injured in penetrating wound of neck. The brachial plexus originates from the neck and travels inferiorly to the upper limb. The thyroid cartilage (largest cartilage of thyroid and trachea) is located at the anterior aspect of the neck.

Bony Structure of Neck

The neck is comprised of seven cervical vertebrae from C1 to C7, hyoid bone, manubrium of sternum and clavicles. The cervical spine has a lordotic curve ( C shaped curve ). According to peculiarities of cervical vertebrates, it could be divided into two groups:

• Superior cervical group: made up by C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis).

• Inferior cervical group: made up by C3 to C7.

Superior Cervical Group:

The first two cervical vertebrae differ considerably from the others.

Atlas, C1, is a ring-like shape , it lacks a body and a spinous process,

Axis, C2, has a vertebral body. It's most distinctive feature is the odontoid process or tooth which is placed vertically on the superior surface of the vertebral body with two articular facets (anterior and posterior) which articulate with atlas bone and atlas transverse ligament. C2 has a smaller and triangular vertebral foramen.

Inferior Cervical Group:

C3 to C6 has similar characteristics such as smaller vertebral body with spinous processes,two pedicles directed backwards and transverse process located anteriorly.

C7 may be considered typical or atypical but has two distinct features. The first is that unlike the rest of the cervical vertebrae, is that the vertebral artery does not traverse the transverse foramen. The second is that it contains a long spinous process, also known as “vertebra prominens.”

Cervical spine joints

Joints between vertebrae are made for spine mobility, Movements of superior cervical spine joint and inferior cervical spine joints functionally completing each others allowing movements like rotation, flexion, extension and inclination of head.

Superior cervical spine joints:

• Atlanto-occipital joint : is aligned to permit movement of nodding (Flexion and extension) and turning (Lateral flexion and rotation)
• Atlanto-axial joint : It compromise three synovial joints, one central atlanto-odontoid joint and two lateral atlanto-axial joints

Intervertebral joints:

• Below C2 adjacent cervical vertebrae are linked by intervertebral discs at inter-body joint (symphysis). Discs allow and restrain movement. These joints are saddle articulation. It is reinforced by anterior longitudinal ligament anteriorly and posterior longitudinal ligament posteriorly,

Apophyseal joints:

• It is formed by articulation of inferior facets of vertebrae and superior facet of adjacent vertebrae. Direction and range of movement of these joints depend on orientation of articular facets.These joints allow flexion, extension, rotation and lateral flexion. Degenerative changes at these joints are very common due to weight-bearing functions.

Uncovertebral joints (Joints of Luschka):

• Opinions are divided whether these structures are joints or pseudoarthrosis. The clinical significance of these structures is the high tendency of developing degenerative changes that may impinge vertebral artery, cervical nerve roots or anterior part of spinal cord.They allow for flexion and extension and limit lateral flexion in the cervical spine.They prevent posterior linear translation movements of the vertebral bodies,Important in providing stability and guiding the motion of the cervical spine.

Ligaments of Cervical Spine

Craniovertebral Ligaments:

Stability of this region depends on integrity of ligaments of upper cervical spine and this has an important consideration in examining and treating cervical region.Ligaments from anterior to posterior:

• Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane: it connects between foramen-magnum above and atlas below, it continues with anterior longitudinal ligament.
• Apical ligament: it is short and attaches anterior part of foramen-magnum.
• Alar ligaments: they are symmetrically placed and inserted onto occipital -condyles. Rotation to right are limited to by left alar ligament and vice-verca. Damage of Alar ligaments by trauma or inflammatory disease can result in increase axial rotation between occiput and atlas and atlas and axis
• Membrane of Tectoria: Connecting posterior surface of body of axis to the basiocciput. It is prolongation of posterior longitudinal ligament and it is found in internal surface of vertebral canal.
• Transverse ligament of Atlas.
• Accessory atanto-axial ligaments
• Posterior atlanto-occipital membrane
• Lateral atlanto-occipital ligaments 

Lower Cervical Ligaments:

• Anterior longitudinal ligament : it is strong band lies anterior to vertebral body. It is relaxed in flexion and taut in extension.
• Posterior longitudinal ligament: it is posterior to vertebral bodies and lies in vertebral canal. It stretches in neck flexion and relaxes in neck extension.
• Ligamenta flava : It is yellow elastic tissue, it connects laminae of adjacent vertebrae. It allows flexion to occur and prevent hyper-flexion by breaking movement at end of range.
• Ligamentum nuchae: it is a fibro-elastic membrane which extends from occiput to spine of all cervical vertebrae. It helps in stability of head and neck especially in head flexion /acceleration injuries. It limits flexion and provides an attachment to Trapezius and Splenius capitis.

Intervertebral Discs:

It make about 25% of cervical spine height, there is no disc between occiput and C1 or between C1 and C2. Intervertebral discs consists of both nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosis.

Cervical Nerve Roots

Although there are 7 cervical vertebraes, there are 8 nerve roots as there is a root between occiput and C1. The roots are named for the vertebrae below .