CERVICAL VERTEBRAE - CH 7

ATLAS ( FIRST CERVICAL VERTEBRA) SUPERIOR VIEW

FIRST CERVICAL VERTEBRA CALLED THE ATLAS BECAUSE IT HOLDS UP THE HEAD * ATLAS HAS NO BODY AND NO SPINOUS PROCESS, BUT HAS LARGE SUPERIOR FACETS, WHICH ARTICULATES WITH THE OCCIPITAL CONDYLES ON THE BASE OF THE SKULL * THIS JOINT ALLOWS THE HEAD TO MOVE IN A ''YES'' OR TO TILT FROM SIDE TO SIDE

AXIS (SECOND CERVICAL VERTEBRA)-SUPERIOR VIEW

SECOND CERVICAL VERTEBRA IS CALLED THE AXIS BC A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF ROTATION OCCURS AT THIS VERTEBRA TO PRODUCE A "NO'' MOTION OF THE HEAD.

DENS

THE AXIS HAS A HIGHLY MODIFIED PROCESS ON THE SIDE OF ITS SMALL BODY * DENS FITS INTO THE ENLARGED VERTEBRAL FOREMEN OF THE ATLAS, ATLAS ROTATES AROUND THIS PROCESS