Anatomy study note · Back
Cervical vertebrae
The seven vertebrae of the neck. C1 (atlas), C2 (axis) and C7 are atypical; C3 to C6 are typical.
Key points
- C1, C2, C7 atypical; C3–C6 typical.
- C7 = vertebra prominens: longest, non-bifid spine; foramen transversarium carries only the vertebral vein.
- C6 anterior tubercle: compress the common carotid against it.
- Cervical nerves exit above their vertebra (C8 between C7 and T1).
- Cervical rib: on C7.
- Vertebra = caudal half of one sclerotome + cranial half of the next.
- Bone: type I collagen + hydroxyapatite.
- Osteoblast builds, osteocyte maintains, osteoclast resorbs.
The full note in the atlas also covers
Features · Histology · Development · Clinical notes
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Written from
- Snell’s Clinical Anatomy by Regions, 10th ed., ch. 2, PDF pp. 128–129, 152–153, 204
- Inderbir Singh’s Human Embryology, ch. 10, PDF pp. 134–137, 137–140
- BRS Cell Biology & Histology, 7th ed., ch. 7, PDF pp. 121–125, 130
More from the back
- Deep muscles of the back
- Intervertebral discs
- Ligaments of the vertebral column
- Lumbar vertebrae
- Spinal cord
- Spinal nerves
- Suboccipital muscles
- Thoracic vertebrae
- Thoracolumbar fascia
- Vertebral column
- Atlas (C1)
- Axis (C2)
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