3rd to 7th Cervical vertebrae

Table of Contents

The bodies of these vertebrae are long. But the length decreases from 3rd to 7th.
The ventral surface presents a median ventral spinous process, which is in the form of a sharp ridge becoming less prominent as it is traced behind and is tuberculate at its posterior end in the 3rd to 5th.
The dorsal surface is flat for the attachment of the dorsal longitudinal ligament.
The marked concavity and convexity of the ends of the bodies of vertebrae is a characteristic feature of this region.
The facets on the articular processes are very large.A continuous plate of bone connects and anterior and posterior articular processes of the same side in the vertebra.
The root of transverse process is perforated by the foramen transversarium except in the 7th.
The aggregate of these foramina form the canalis transversarius for the passage of the vertebral vessels and nerve,hence called Nervus transversarius.
Each transverse process divides into upper and lower parts, which are rough for muscular attachment.
The spinous process is in the form of a low thick rod, which is directed upward and forwards.
These spines gradually increase in height from third to the fifth. The spine of the third is often bifid at the summit.

It presents the following distinctive features
The body is the shorter and wider.
The lower division of the transverse process is more developed and plate like and extends considerably below and behind the level of the body.
The dorsal spine is longer than in the fifth.
The ventral spine is absent.

The following character distinguishes this vertebra from the others.
The body is the shortest of all the cervicals.
The transverse process is single and undivided and foramen transversarium is absent.
The spine is very well developed and inclines gently forwards and is a prominent plate of bone and hence the vertebra is also termed as vertebra prominence.
On either side of the posterior end of body is a semicircular concave costal (capitular) facet which with a similar one on the anterior aspect of the first dorsal vertebra forms a cup-shaped capitular cavity for the head of the first rib.
The ventral spine is absent.

A continuous plate of bone unites the anterior and posterior oblique processes in the fifth but this plate extends only three-fourths the distance forwards from the posterior articular process in the fourth and only half way in the third.
The spines are less developed.
The articular processes are better developed.
The transverse processes are bifid showing anterior and posterior division.

The transverse process is trifid, the third part is plate like and spine back extends below the body.

The spine is a flattened triangular process and much smaller than that of the ox.
The body is larger.

The cervical vertebra are short and wide.
The bodies are elliptical in cross section.
The ventral spinous process is absent.
The pedicles are perforated by a foramen in addition to the intervertebral foramen.
The transverse process is divided into two divisions from third to sixth.
The spines increases in height from third to last and the last is the tallest.
Usually two intervertebral foramen in each side of the arch.

The third, fourth and fifth cervicals: The bodies are relatively longer and are compressed dorso-ventrally.
The sixth cervical: The lower plate like division of the transverse process is extensive and is ridged on its medial face.

The bodies of these vertebrae are rod like.
The anterior extremity of each vertebra is concave from side to side and convex from above downward and the posterior extremity presents the reverse condition i.e. convex from side to side and concave from above downwards, which admits a great degree of movement in this region.
The transverse processes arise from under the anterior articular process and are prolonged behind by spicules of bone – the styloid process. The latter represent cervical ribs.
Foramen transversarium is present. No facets for the head of the first rib are present on the body of fourteenth.

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