Cervical Spine

The cervical vertebrae are the first (upper) seven in the vertebral column. The first cervical vertebra is the atlas, so called because it directly bears the weight of the skull. The second cervical vertebra is called the axis, because it admits the rotation of the skull by allowing the atlas to pivot upon it. The other five cervical vertebrae have no names, but are called by their number (i.e., third cervical vertebra). Each of the cervical vertebra features a body (anterior, or frontal, portion) and an arch (posterior, or rear, portion). The body of each vertebra in the column bears the weight of the vertebrae above it (and the skull), while the arch serves to create a canal-like area along the spine to house and protect the spinal cord. Every cervical vertebra has a foramen (opening) in each of its transverse processes (lateral protrusions). The arch of the vertebra features a small knob or prominence, called an anterior tubercle. The anterior tubercles on the sixth cervical vertebra are particularly large and are known as the carotid tubercles.