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Functional Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Cervical Spine

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Cervical Spine

Abstract

The head-neck system consists of seven cervical vertebrae and has a unique anatomy and motion to accommodate the needs of a highly mobile head-torso transitory zone. From a kinematical point of view, this system is very complex. Normally, the spine mainly functions as a coupled unit, and neck kinematics can be analyzed by studying head movement relative to the upper body. Cervical motion in every plane is checked by anatomic restraints that protect the spinal cord and accompanying vascular structures. The head can be regarded as a platform that houses the sensory apparatus for hearing, vision, smell, taste: the cervical spine constitutes a device that support this sensory platform, moving and orientating it in the three-dimensional space. Any disturbance of anatomy and mechanical properties can lead to clinical symptoms. Also age-related changes can modified cervical anatomy and alignment, drastically reducing range of motion [1, 2].

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Although not a physiological movement, lateral bending at the C1-C2 joint is assessed by some manipulative proceedings. While C2 superior articular facets slope inferiorly and laterally, C1 lateral translation must be accompanied by ipsilateral side bending. Minimal lateral translation can occur during lateral flexion of the entire cervical spine. Restraints to this motion are the contralateral alar ligament and the impaction of the contralateral lateral mass onto the lateral aspect of the odontoid process.

  2. 2.

    The “pillar view” is a cervical postero-anterior radiographic projection achieved by directing the beams upwards and forwards essentially along the planes of the lower zigoapophysial joints.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, Don Gnocchi Foundation ONLUS, Milan, Italy

    Alessandro Ramieri MD PhD

  2. Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, Neurosurgery, University “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy

    Maurizio Domenicucci MD

  3. Department of Orthopedics and Neurosurgery, Polo Pontino University “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy

    Massimo Miscusi MD & Giuseppe Costanzo MD

Authors
  1. Alessandro Ramieri MD PhD
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  2. Maurizio Domenicucci MD
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  3. Massimo Miscusi MD
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  4. Giuseppe Costanzo MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alessandro Ramieri MD PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Spine Center, Rome American Hospital, Rome, Italy

    Pier Paolo Maria Menchetti

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Ramieri, A., Domenicucci, M., Miscusi, M., Costanzo, G. (2016). Functional Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Cervical Spine. In: Menchetti, P. (eds) Cervical Spine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21608-9_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21608-9_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-21607-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-21608-9

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