The spinal canal is the smallest of the spinal column and contains the most structures of any area in the spine — the spinal cord, the vertebral artery and spinal nerves. The normal cervical spine is an average 14mm wide at the C5 vertebral level.
What is the function of the cervical spine?
The body is deeper in front than behind, and prolonged downward anteriorly so as to overlap the upper and front part of the third vertebra. The cervical spine functions to provide mobility and stability to the head while connecting it to the relatively immobile thoracic spine.
What is normal cervical range of motion?
When checking cervical range of motion, the examiner tests the movement of the head, or skull, and neck in flexion, extension, lateral bending and rotation. Normal ranges of motion for the cervical spine include 50 degrees of flexion, 60 degrees of extension, 45 degrees of lateral, or side bending, and 80 degrees of rotation.
What are the best exercises for cervical spinal stenosis?
Seated shoulder shrugs: While seated,draw the shoulder blades together,hold for a second or two,and then lower them back to a normal position.
What causes kyphosis of the cervical spine?
Causes. Kyphosis occurs when the vertebrae in the upper back become more wedge shaped. Abnormal vertebrae can be caused by: Fractures. Broken or crushed vertebrae (compression fractures) can result in curvature of the spine. Mild compression fractures often don’t produce noticeable signs or symptoms.
What causes pain in the cervical spine?
Most neck pain is due to degenerative changes that occur in the intervertebral discs of the cervical spine and the joints between each vertebra. Perhaps the most serious of the problems caused by degeneration of the spinal segment in the cervical spine is the condition of spinal stenosis.
How to read CT of the cervical spine?
Alignment: make sure the vertebral bodies line up with each other.
