• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • General Ortho
  • Procedures
  • Spine
  • Upper Limb
  • Lower Limb
  • Pain
  • Trauma
  • Tumors
  • Newsletter/Updates
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Bone and Spine

Orthopedic health, conditions and treatment

Vertebra Prominens or Seventh Cervical Vertebra [C7]

By Dr Arun Pal Singh

In this article
    • Structural Features
    • Attachments
    • Clinical significance
      • Anatomical Landmark
      • Cervical Rib

Vertebra prominens is the common name for 7th cervical vertebra or C7, the largest and most inferior vertebra of the cervical region of the spine.

It is named because it has a large spinous process that protrudes posteriorly and can be felt prominently on palpation.

Vertebra prominens is easily recognized on palpation of the back of the neck from above downwards because of its palpation.

Cervical spine is formed by seven vertebras named as C1 to C7.  First vertebra is known as atlas and second as axis. Third to sixth cervical vertebra are typical in anatomical structure. But as the cervical spine approaches its end, its last vertebra or seventh cervical vertebra, C7 changes in shape.

[read more on cervical spine anatomy]

This vertebra prominens is used as a landmark in the clinical examination for numbering the vertebra during spine examination

c7.png

Structural Features

The transverse processes are comparatively large in size, the posterior root is larger than the anterior. The anterior tubercle is absent. The foramen transversarium is relatively small, sometimes double, or may be entirely absent.

The anterior root of the transverse process may sometimes be separate and form cervical rib.

The upper surface of transverse processes usually bears a shallow sulcus for the eighth spinal nerve.

The spinous process is thick, long and nearly horizontal going straight back. Unlike other cervical vertebrae, It is not bifid but ends in a tubercle.

C7 vertebra forms joints with C6 vertebra above and T1 vertebra below.

Attachments

  •  Tip of spinous process-
    • Ligamentum nuchae
    • Trapezius
    • Rhomboideus minor
    • Serratus posterior superior
    • Splenius capitis
    • Semispinalis thoracis
    • Spinalis cervicis
    • Interspinales
    • Multifidus.
  • Transverse process
    • Transmits only an accessory vertebral vein
  • Posterior tubercle
    • Suprapleural membrane
  • Lower border
    • Levator costarum.

Clinical significance

Anatomical Landmark

In most of the people, C7 is most prominent vertebra and is considered as a landmark in clinical examination of spine. This gives a landmark to count vertebrae above and downward.

But it must be borne in the mind that only 70% of people have C7 as most prominent. In the rest, either C6 or T1 can make the most prominent vertebra. Therefore, it introduces a chance of error in such cases.

Cervical Rib

Anterior root of the C7 vertebra can form the cervical rib. It could be asymptomatic in most of the people but can give rise to Thoracic outlet syndrome.

 

Spread the Knowledge
  • 87
    Shares
  •  
    87
    Shares
  • 87
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Filed Under: Anatomy

About Dr Arun Pal Singh

Arun Pal Singh is an orthopedic and trauma surgeon, founder and chief editor of this website. He works in Kanwar Bone and Spine Clinic, Dasuya, Hoshiarpur, Punjab.

This website is an effort to educate and support people and medical personnel on orthopedic issues and musculoskeletal health.

You can follow him on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter

Primary Sidebar

Baker Cyst

Baker Cyst or Popliteal Cyst

Baker cyst or popliteal cyst is a soft-tissue swelling in the posterior aspect of the knee which contains gelatinous fluid. It is called Baker Cyst after Dr. William Morrant Baker who first described it. Most common location of Baker cyst is distal the popliteal crease under the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle. These conditions […]

Non Union Fracture of Tibia With Narrow Dynamic Compression Plate

Xray Pictures of Fractured Tibia Fibula

Tibia is the bone that spans from knee to ankle. Here are some x-ray pictures of a fractured tibia Image 1 – Xray Of Comminuted Fracture Tibia Upper End The x-ray in the image shows a comminuted fractured tibia. The x-ray in the present picture is anteroposterior view. Image 2 –  Oblique Fracture of Lower […]

Radius and Ulna Anatomy

Radius Bone Anatomy

The radius bone is the lateral [on side of thumb] and slightly shorter of the two forearm bones. It rotates to produce the motion supination and pronation of the forearm. Supination is the movement which allows you to turn your palms skyward in a flexed elbow and pronation causes it to face the ground [in […]

Rib Vertebral Angle Difference by Mehta

Rib Vertebral Angle In Scoliosis

Rib vertebral angle measurement and its significance were brought in by Dr Mehta. Measurement of this angle has an important implication in infantile idiopathic scoliosis as it differentiates between the progressive and resolving type of scoliosis. Infantile idiopathic scoliosis is first diagnosed between birth and 3 years of age. This category comprises about 1% of […]

Ectrodactyly hands and feet together

Foot Deformities and Their Causes

Foot deformities can be congenital or acquired conditions which occur due to structural abnormalities or muscular imbalances. Foot is formed of bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. While provides structural arrangement and strength, muscle tendons and ligaments are responsible for maintaining shape and carrying functions of the foot. This unique arrangement makes foot stable, strong, […]

Ilioinguinal approach Incision

Surgical Approaches to Acetabulum

Approaches to Acetabulum Approaches to acetabulum could be anterior approaches, posterior approaches or extensile approaches. Anterior approaches to acetabulum include Iliofemoral Approach Ilioinguinal Approach Posterior approaches to acetabulum include Kocher Langenbach Transtroachanteric Extensile approaches to acetabulum include Triradiate Transtrochanteric Extended Iliofemoral Iliofemoral Apporach to Acetabulum This approach provides access to the iliac crest and the […]

knee bursas

Knee Bursas and Their Significance

Knee bursas is the term for the bursas around the knee. Bursa, a fluid-filled structure that is present between two apposing surfaces to reduce the friction between the two surfaces. Bursas are generally are located around large joints such as the shoulder, knee, hip, and elbow. Knee bursas or bursae are of two types. Those […]

Browse Articles

Footer

Pages

  • About
    • Policies
    • Contact Us

Featured Article

Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

Rotator cuff tendonitis [also termed as supraspinatus tendonitis] is inflammation of the supraspinatus/rotator cuff tendon and/or the soft tissues … [Read More...] about Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

Search Articles

© Copyright: BoneAndSpine.com