The Spine

Spinal Column Vertebral Areas

Cervical Vertebrae (C1 - C7)

The cervical spine is divided into two parts; the upper cervical region (C1 and C2), and the lower cervical region (C3 through C7). C1 is termed the Atlas and C2 the Axis. The Occiput (CO), also known as the Occipital Bone, is a flat bone that forms the back of the head.

Angie injured her C2 and C7 as well as the Sacrum at the base of her spine. Her C2 was mildly displaced with a left lateral fracture that extended into her left foramen, which is the opening between vertebrae through which nerves leave the spine. Her C7 was transverse and moderately displaced with a fracture of the lateral C7 transverse process (A protrusion extending out from either side of a vertebral body).

See Angie's Medical Report for a much more through explanation.

Cervical Column Xray
Not Angie's

First Three Cervical Vertebrae

Posterior Atlantoöccipital Membrane And Atlantoaxial Ligament.

Neck Section Cut-Away

Atlas (C1)

The Atlas is the first cervical vertebra and therefore abbreviated C1. This vertebra supports the skull. Its appearance is different from the other spinal vertebrae. The atlas is a ring of bone made up of two lateral masses joined at the front and back by the anterior arch and the posterior arch.

Axis (C2)

The Axis is the second cervical vertebra or C2. It is a blunt tooth–like process that projects upward. It is also referred to as the ‘dens’ (Latin for ‘tooth’) or odontoid process. The dens provides a type of pivot and collar allowing the head and atlas to rotate around the dens.

C2 From Above

C2 From Side

Vertebra prominens (C7)

The most distinctive characteristic of the C7 vertebra is the existence of a long and prominent spinous process, hence the name vertebra prominens. In some subjects, the seventh cervical vertebra is associated with an abnormal pair of ribs, known as cervical ribs. These ribs are usually small, but may occasionally compress blood vessels (such as the subclavian artery) or nerves in the brachial plexus, causing unpleasant symptoms.

Movements of the cervical spine

The movements of flexion and extension of the head take place predominantly at the joint between the first cervical vertebra and the occipital bone, the atlanto-occipital joint. However, the cervical spine is comparatively mobile, and some component of this movement is due to flexion and extension of the vertebral column itself.

The movement of rotating the head to left and right happens almost entirely at the joint between the first and second cervical vertebrae, the atlanto-axial joint. A small amount of rotation of the vertebral column itself contributes to the movement.

Sacrum

The Sacrum

The sacrum is a large, triangular bone at the base of the spine and at the upper and back part of the pelvic cavity, where it is inserted like a wedge between the two hip bones. Its upper part connects with the last lumbar vertebra, and bottom part with the coccyx (tailbone).

It is curved upon itself and placed obliquely (that is, tilted forward). It is kyphotic — that is, concave facing forwards. The base projects forward as the sacral promontory internally, and articulates with the last lumbar vertebra to form the prominent sacrovertebral angle. The central part is curved outward towards the posterior, allowing greater room for the pelvic cavity.

Pelvis