Chapter 8 C - spine

Spinal Curvatures Normal curvatures –_______________ Abnormal curvatures –_______ exaggerated concavity (Swayback) –_______exaggerated convexity (Humpback) –_______ exaggerated lateral curvature

Vertebral Anatomy ___________ – Thick rounded area. ___________ – Posterior arch of bony projections

Axial View ______________ – Opening for spinal cord ____________ – Posterior protrusions from body ___________ – Posterior portion of arch off of pedicle meets midline

Axial View ______________ – Lateral projections _____________ – Most posterior protrusions midline

Lateral View Body – Thick _________ portion Pedicle – __________ to body Laminae – _________ to transverse process/pedicle

Lateral View Transverse Process – Termination of ___________ Spinous process – Posterior termination __________ _________________articular process – Superior and inferior projections

Vertebral Joints _______________ (Apophyseal, Facet) – Superior and inferior articular process ______________ – Area of disks. Disks -______________(outer borders). -______________(Inner material). HNP

Intervertebral Foramina Hole formed by ________________ –Superior and Inferior ____________ Space for _______________vessels to pass

C-spine Variations __________________ –Hole in transverse process for vertebral artery/veins/nerves ___________ spinous process – Split spinous process on ________

C-spine Variations Zygapophyseal joints - __________seen on lat. ____ seen on _____ Articular pillars –Lateral Masses

C-spine Intervertebral foramina _______angle from mid sagittal _________ inferior angle Important to know for __________ imaging

C1 __________ Skull rests on ____________Facets –Atlantooccipital articulation _________ arch with tubercle

C2 __________ ____________(Dens) –Resting posterior to the anterior arch of C1 Pivot for rotating head

Imaging the C-Spine Routine AP 40”SID AP Open Mouth 40” SID Lt Lateral 60-72”SID RPO/RAO 60-72” SID LPO/LAO 60-72”SID kV

AP C-Spine Supine or Erect Slightly __________ ________________angle CR mid-sagittal Level of thyroid cartilage ________ C3-7 seen well Collimate to _________

AP Open Mouth For ______________view Have pt __________ Align top ___________surface is in line with _____________ CR through mouth

Open Mouth Collimate to outer edges of mouth Shows ________________of ____ Dens

RPO/LPO Place pt in ___________ Angle tube ___________ CR to the level of C4 Shows intervertebral foramina _____________ from IR

RAO/LAO Pt in __________ ____________angle CR to the level of C4 Shows intervertebral foramina __________

Lateral C-Spine Erect or X-table SID ___________ _________ shoulders with pt straight Slightly extend chin CR to thyroid cartilage (C4-6) Must visualize ___________

X-Table If pt presents with a C-spine collar _____________ __________________________ Collar must be __________

Swimmers If ___________not on Lateral Place pt in lateral Arm closest to ____________head Arm farthest from ____________ CR __________jugular notch May put slight _________ angle if needed.