Bones Cartilage and Joints of the neck

What separates the 2 tissues of the neck

the oesophagus

What are the 2 sets of tissues of the neck

anterior skeleton

posterior skeleton

Function of the anterior skeleton

important in ventilation and feeding

Functino of the posterior skeleton

upper part of vertebral column

What are the main bones of the anterior skeleton of the neck

hyoid bone

What are the main cartilage of the anterior skeleton of the neck

thyroid

cricoid

tracheal rings

Label clockwise

epiglottis

thyroid cartilage

cricothyroid muscle

cricoid cartilage

tracheal rings

cricothyroid cartilage

thyrohyoid membrane

What is the main structure of the posterior skeleton of the neck

cervical spine

Where are the bones of the neck located

in the midline

Anterior set of bones of the neck

the hyoid bone

Posterior set of bones

cervical spine

How many bones make up the cervical spine

7

Features of the hyoid bone

-no bony articulations

-stabilised by ligaments and muscles

-suspends the larynx

-supports the floor of the mouth

Which bone is this, label clockwise

hyoid bone

-greater horn/ greater cornu

-lesser horn/ lesser cornu

-body

What si the significance of the body of the bone

usually the first part of the bone to ossify

How many ossification centres are in the hyoid bone

4 primary ossification centres

How can the hyoid bone divided into 2 halves

divided into 2 halves at the level of the body

Describe the embryology of the body of the hyoid bone

upper half:

-2nd branchial arch derivative (developed from cartilage belonging to the 2nd pharyngeal arch)

-1 primary ossification centre

lower half:

-3rd branchial arch derivative

-1 primary ossification centre

Describe the embryology of the lesser horn

-2nd branchial arch derivative

-1 primary ossification centre

Describe the embryology of the greater horn

3rd branchial arch derivative

1 primary ossification centre

What is the cranial nerve for the hyoid

facial nerve CN7

Which ligaments attach to the hyoid bone

stylohyoid ligaments

Which muscles of the head and neck attach to the hyoid bone

tongue

pharynx

larynx

What is the importance of the muscular attachments of the hyoid bone

stabilise the hyoid in its resting position

What are the 2 main groups of muscles attached to the hyoid bones

suprahyoid bone (act to elevate the hyoid, attached superiorly to the hyoid bone)

infrahyoid bone (act to depress/lower the hyoid bone, attached inferiorly to the hyoid bone)

What is the cervical spine

collection of discrete (seperable from one another) vertebrae that form the skeleton of the neck

Functions of the cervical spine

connects the head ot the rest of the body

supports and transmits all the weight of the head to the rest of the body

occupies the posterior aspects of the neck

What are the 2 sets of cervical vertebrae

typical vertebrae C3-C6 (maybe C7)

atypical vertebrae C1 and C2

What is the neural foramen

a small, hollow opening located between adjacent vertebrae on both sides of the spinal column

Function of the neural foramen

openings act as passageways for spinal nerves, blood vessels, and dorsal root ganglions to exit the spinal cord and travel to other body parts.

Label clockwise

bifid spinous process

pedicle

superior articular process

body

transverse process

transverse foramen

vertebral foramen

lamina

Label clockwise

body

superior articular process

sulcus for spinal nerve

inferior articular facet

spinous process

inferior articular process

transverse foramen

transverse process

uncinate process

How many ossificatio centres do typical cervical vertebrae have

3

What is the neural arch of the vertebrae

posterior part of a vertebra that encloses and protects the spinal cord

made up of 2 laminae and 2 pedicles and forms the vertebral foramen

Distinguishing features of typical cervical vertebrae

1. bifid spinous process

2. oval tranverse foramen in the transverse processes

3. large vertebral foramen

4. vertebral artery passes through the transverse foramen (except C7)

5. The presence of the uncinate process

Why is C7 sometimes not considered as typical vertebrae

-doesn’t have a bifid spinous process

-prominent spinous process

-large transverse process

-smaller accessory veins pass through the C7 foramen rather than the vertebral artery

What are the names of the 2 atypical cervical vertebrae

atlas- C1

axis- C2

Features of C1/ atlas

no body or spinous process

widest cervical vertebra

2 primary ossification centres

Where does C1/atlas articulate

-articulates with the base of the skull (occiput) via the atlanto-occipital joint (nodding/ up and down movement)

-articulates with axis/C2 via the atlanto-axial joint for side-to-side rotation)

Describe the embryology of C1/Atlas

-has 2 primary ossification centres

-its body is displaced and fused with that of axis (C2) to form the odontoid process

Describe the neural arch of atlas and why

each neural arch is thick and strong to form a powerful lateral mass

Features of C2- axis

-strongest cervical vertebra
-the odontoid peg/dens

-large bifid spinous process

-rugged lateral mass

-4 primary ossifcation centres

Function of the odontoid process

prevents horizontal displacement of atlas

What are the 2 types of cervical spine fractures

burst/Jefferson fracture- C1 breaks into 4 pieces

Hangman’s fracture- C2 breaks into 2 pieces, due to hyperextension of the head on the neck (hanging)

What are the 2 types of joints of the cervical spine

-intervertebral joints/discs: between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae (anteriorly), absent between C1 and C2 but present between all vertebrae below C2 onwards

-facet joints: between adjacent vertebrae via articular processes (posteriorly)

What type of joints are the intervertebral discs

cartilagenous joints (specifically symphysis joints)

they are immovable

What type of joints are the facet joints

synovial joints (movable)

What is another name for facet joints

apophyseal joints

Label clockwise

joint cavity

joint capsule

2 parts of intervertebral discs

-nucleus pulposus (remnants of the notochord)

-annulus fibrosis

What are the 2 types of facet joints

upper neck apophyseal joints

lower neck apophyseal joints

What are the 2 types of upper neck apophyseal joints

atlanto-occipital joint

atlanto-axial joint

What are the lower neck apophyseal joints

-joints between superior and inferior articular processes of the rest of the cervical spine

Label from top to bottom

occiput (back of the head)

odontoid

AO joint

atlas

AA joint

axis

Label from top to bottom

AO joint

Atlas

AA joint

Axis

What type of joints are AO joints

condyloid joints (type of synovial joint)

Features of AO joints

classified as synovial joints with capsules

• very mobile with primarily ligamentous stabilisation

• facilitate occipital flexion and extension on the atlas/C1

How do AO joints lie in relation to the spine

lie anterolateral to the spinal cord

Which structures of the AO joints align with

uncinate process of the lower cervical bodies

What type of joints are the AA joint

pivot joint

How many AA joints are there

3

What type of movement do the AA joints allow and how

rotation / side to side movement of the head

there is a pivot joint between the odontoid process of the axis and ring formed by the anterior arch and the transverse ligament of the atlas

Label clockwise

odontoid process/dens of axis

anterior arch of C1

ligament

superior articular facet

What are the 3 atlantoaxial joints

median joint

2 lateral joints

Median joint

between dens and anterior arch of C1 and dens and transverse ligament

stabilised by the transverse ligament of the atlas

What are the 2 articulations of the median atlantoaxial joint

Lateral joints

Two joints, one on each side, connecting the large lateral masses of the C1 (atlas) to the superior facets of the C2

Label clockwise

median atlantoaxial joint

median intervertebral joints

lateral facet joints

atlantooccipital joint

Label this image

1. bifid spinous process of C3

2. superimposed articular processes

3. uncinate process

4. trachea

5. transverse process of C7

6. transverse process of T1

7. 1st rib

8. clavicle

Label this image

1. anterior arch of the atlas

2. dens of axis

3. posterior arch of atlas

4. soft palate

5. root of tongue

6. transverse process

7. intervertebral disc

8. inferior articular process

9. superior articular process

10. facet joint

11. spinous process of C7