Chapter 5: Cervical Spine

EXERCISE 2: WHAT STRUCTURE IS THIS?

Exercise 2 Objective: Teach the user to recognize radiographic anatomy on the normal radiographs of the routine evaluation of the cervical spine.

Exercise type: 2: What Structure is This?

Instruction: User will look at the highlighted structure and identify it from a list of five possibilities.

View: Anteroposterior Open-Mouth Cervical Spine

What structure is this?

A. Intervertebral disc

B. Transverse process of C1

C. Right pedicle of C2

D. Spinous process of C2

E. Posterior arch of C1

Question Rationale: The posterior arch is seen as a thin line crossing the base of the dens.

What structure is this?

A. Intervertebral disc

B. Transverse process of C1

C. Right pedicle of C2

D. Spinous process of C2

E. Posterior arch of C1

Question Rationale: The most cephalad intervertebral disc space is C2–C3.

What structure is this?

A. Intervertebral disc

B. Transverse process of C1

C. Right pedicle of C2

D. Spinous process of C2

E. Posterior arch of C1

Question Rationale: The bifid spinous process is superimposed over the body of C2.

What structure is this?

A. Intervertebral disc

B. Transverse process of C1

C. Right pedicle of C2

D. Spinous process of C2

E. Posterior arch of C1

Question Rationale: The transverse processes of C1 extend laterally from the lateral masses of C1.

What structure is this?