Cervical vertebrae

The cervical vertebrae experience less stress compared to the vertebrae of other parts of the spine, so they have small, low bodies. The cervical spine is most susceptible to injuries because it has weak muscles, which undergo quite substantial stresses, and its vertebrae are characterized by small size and low strength.

The vertebrae of the neck include transverse processes having openings. Arteries and veins pass through these openings and are involved in providing the brain with oxygen and nutrition.

With various pathologies of the cervical spine, for example, with the appearance of hernias that compress blood vessels, cerebrovascular insufficiency arises.

A person may appear:

• headaches;
• deterioration in general condition;
• Dizziness
• disorders of gait and speech.

Among the common diseases of the spine, the leading place is taken by osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. This is due to the fact that most people lead a sedentary lifestyle. Statistics show that a quarter of the world's population suffers from this disease at different stages. ^[one]

Vertebrae of the cervical region curved forward arc - lordosis.

The cervical spine is the most mobile part of the spine. He is responsible for the implementation of neck movements, for bending and turning the head. Damage to the cervical spine can occur as a result of a strong blow to the neck or with an excessive or sharp tilt of the head. This type of injury can be accompanied by spinal cord injury. The human cervical vertebrae are seven. Congenital features are found:

• Vertebrae underdevelopment (flattened vertebrae, microspondylia).
• Asymmetric development of one of the half vertebrae.
• Increase or decrease in the number of vertebrae.
• Additional wedge-shaped vertebrae and semi-vertebrae.
• Wedge-shaped alternating vertebrae and half-vertebrae.
• Back wedge-shaped vertebrae.
• Total or partial fusion of adjacent vertebrae (Fig.).
• Butterfly vertebrae.
• Spina bifida (back and front).
• Underdevelopment of the arch, processes, spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis.

The first and second cervical vertebrae - atlas (CI) and epistrophy , or axis (CII) - connect the spine to the skull and form the atlantoaxial-occipital complex. The vertebra CI has no body, but there are anterior and posterior arches that limit the lumen of the spinal canal. The upper surface of the vertebra CI has slightly concave articular processes that are connected to the condyles of the occipital bone. At the vertebra CII there is a body that passes into the dentate process. It protrudes upward, articulates with the inner surface of the front arc of the atlas and reaches the level of the large occipital foramen. Vertebra CI connects to the condyles of the occipital bone. Between the vertebrae CI and CII, there are three joints: two paired joints between CI and CII and one between the toothlike process of CII and the arch of the vertebra CI. The vertebral foramen is wide, close to triangular in shape. The transverse processes have an opening of the transverse process ( lat. Foramen processus transversus ), in which the transverse process of the vertebral artery ( lat. Pars transversaria arteriae vertebralis ) passes. Near the hole on the upper side of the transverse process is a groove of the spinal nerve ( lat. Sulcus nervi spinalis ). The end of the transverse process is divided into two tubercles - anterior and posterior ( Latin tuberculum anterius et posterius ). The anterior tubercle of the sixth cervical vertebra is well developed, it is called the carotid tubercle ( Latin tuberculum caroticum ), since the common carotid artery can be pressed against it if necessary. The articular processes of the cervical vertebrae are short and slightly inclined, their articular surfaces are flat. The spinous processes of the cervical vertebrae are short, bifurcated at the end.

In the seventh cervical vertebra, the spinous process is long, it is easy to palpate in humans, so the seventh vertebra is called the protruding ( lat. Vertebra prominens ) ^[2] .

A common anomaly of the cervical spine is the well-developed cervical ribs in the seventh cervical vertebra. In this case, the seventh vertebra becomes similar to the thoracic. Splitting of the arches of the vertebrae may also occur due to non-fusion of the anterior neuropore. This leads to myelomeningocele.

• Sapin M.R., Bryksina Z. G. Human anatomy. - M .: Education , 1995.
• Shimkevich V.M. Cervical vertebrae // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.