This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Vertebra prominens

Authoring team

The C7 vertebra is termed vertebra prominens because of its prominent spinous process which is palpable through the skin:

  • vertebral foramen is more oval and smaller than foramen superiorly
  • body:
    • relatively broader than vertebrae superiorly
    • uncus or lip sited at its lateral margin and facing superomedially
    • joined to pedicle posterolaterally
  • pedicles:
    • directed more posteriorly than superior vertebral pedicles
    • joined to body anteriorly, transverse process laterally, and continuous with lamella posteriorly
  • transverse processes:
    • contain smaller foramen transversarium than superior vertebrae which transmits vertebral vein
    • foramen is bounded by anterior and posterior tubercles connected by intertubercular lamellae
  • anterior tubercle of transverse process:
    • longer than posterior tubercle
    • may form a poorly developed rib-like structure as a fibrous or bony strip - the origin of cervical rib syndrome
  • superior articular process:
    • oval in shape
    • at junction of transverse process and lamella
  • inferior articular process: face more anteriorly than inferiorly
  • laminae: relatively long and project posteriorly in median plane to spinous process
  • spinous process:
    • very long and prominent projecting directly posteriorly
    • not bifid
    • spinous tubercle at tip

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.