Mechanics of the cervical spine

Cervical spine:

Resting position : lordosis (the anterior concavity in the curvature of the lumbar and cervical spine as viewed from the side).

Upper cervical spine (UCS):

 C0 (occipital) - C1 ( Atlas)
 C1 - C2 ( Axis) 

Lower Cervical spine (LCS):
-
 C2-C6 the most mobile
- C7-D3

Mechanics of the cervical spine:

              Description of the vertebraes. 

Apophyseal joint : 

•  45º in relation to the vertebral body, plane neither in a frontal or in a transversal plane.

This vertebraes have a short transverses processes with an orifice for the vertebral artery,

and bifurcated spinous processes.

               Global movements: 

     There is no bending without rotations. We always have coupled movements. 

             UCS: C0- C1- C2:

• There is no vertebral disc
• Joint surface are almost flat
• C0-C1 : 2 apophyseal joints Predominant movement are flexion and extension (movement of the "YES") and it follows a convex rule.
• C1-C2 : 2 apophyseal joints and the articulations with the odontoid --> importance of the ligaments. Predominant movement is the rotation ( " NO" movement) and it follows a concave rule. 

In the part of the cervical we have coupled motions :

• Flexion or extension with bending and controlateral rotation.