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However, the cervical spine is comparatively mobile, and some component of this movement is due to flexion and extension of the vertebral column itself. This movement between the atlas and occipital bone is often referred to as the "yes joint", owing to its nature of being able to move the head in an up-and-down fashion.
The clivus is an important landmark for checking for anatomical atlanto-occipital alignment. When viewed on a lateral C-spine radiograph, the clivus forms a line which, if extended, is known as Wackenheim's clivus line. Wackenheim's clivus line should pass through the dens of the axis or be tangential to it. [9]
In anatomy, the atlas (C1) is the most superior (first) cervical vertebra of the spine and is located in the neck.. The bone is named for Atlas of Greek mythology, just as Atlas bore the weight of the heavens, the first cervical vertebra supports the head. [1]
Cervical collars are also used therapeutically to help realign the spinal cord and relieve pain, [7] although they are usually not worn for long periods of time. [8] Another use of the cervical collar is for strains, sprains, or whiplash. [4] [5] If pain is persistent, the collar might be required to remain attached to help in the healing process.
The number of vertebrae in a region can vary but overall the number remains the same. In a human spinal column, there are normally 33 vertebrae. [3] The upper 24 pre-sacral vertebrae are articulating and separated from each other by intervertebral discs, and the lower nine are fused in adults, five in the sacrum and four in the coccyx, or tailbone.
The axial skeleton, comprising the spine, chest and head, contains 80 bones. The appendicular skeleton , comprising the arms and legs, including the shoulder and pelvic girdles, contains 126 bones, bringing the total for the entire skeleton to 206 bones.
In anatomy, the axis (from Latin axis, "axle") is the second cervical vertebra (C2) of the spine, immediately inferior to the atlas, upon which the head rests. The spinal cord passes through the axis. The defining feature of the axis is its strong bony protrusion known as the dens, which rises from the superior aspect of the bone.
They are innervated by the third to the eighth cervical spinal nerves (C3-C8). The anterior and middle scalene muscles lift the first rib and bend the neck to the side they are on. The posterior scalene lifts the second rib and tilts the neck to the same side. The muscles are named from Ancient Greek σκαληνός (skalēnós) 'uneven'.