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In humans, cervical vertebrae are the smallest of the true vertebrae and can be readily distinguished from those of the thoracic or lumbar regions by the presence of a foramen (hole) in each transverse process, through which the vertebral artery, vertebral veins, and inferior cervical ganglion pass. The remainder of this article focuses upon ...
The carotid sheath is a condensation of the deep cervical fascia [1]: 578 enveloping multiple vital neurovascular structures of the neck, [2] including the common and internal carotid arteries, the internal jugular vein, the vagus nerve (CN X), and ansa cervicalis. [1]: 578 [2] The carotid sheath helps protects the structures contained therein. [2]
The alignment of the vertebrae defines the shape of the human neck. [5] As the vertebrae bound the spinal canal, the cervical portion of the spinal cord is also found within the neck. Visceral compartment accommodates the trachea , larynx , pharynx , thyroid , and parathyroid glands .
The atlas is the topmost vertebra and the axis (the vertebra below it) forms the joint connecting the skull and spine. The atlas and axis are specialized to allow a greater range of motion than normal vertebrae. They are responsible for the nodding and rotation movements of the head.
The spinal nerves arise from the spinal column. The top section of the spine is the cervical section, which contains nerves that innervate muscles of the head, neck and thoracic cavity, as well as transmit sensory information to the CNS. The cervical spine section contains seven vertebrae, C-1 through C-7, and eight nerve pairs, C-1 through C-8.
The inferior processes or postzygapophysis project downward from a higher vertebra, and their articular surfaces are directed more or less forward and outward. The articular surfaces are coated with hyaline cartilage. In the cervical vertebral column, the articular processes collectively form the articular pillars. These are the bony surfaces ...
A fully grown adult features 26 bones in the spine, whereas a child can have 33. Cervical vertebrae (7 bones) Thoracic vertebrae (12 bones) Lumbar vertebrae (5 bones) Sacrum (5 bones at birth, fused into one after adolescence) Coccyx (set of 4 bones at birth)
In the cervical region, a small part of the body of vertebra inferior to the intervertebral disc also forms the anterior boundary of the IVF (due to the fact that the junction of the pedicle with the body of vertebra is situated somewhat more inferiorly on the body). [2]: 425