A&P Question about the Atlas - C1

[Trenata]

I keep looking at the Atlas, C1 of the cervical region. My notes and the book says there is no spinous process. I look at it laterally, and I see a spinous process. Am I getting something confused, why does it look like it has a spinous process laterally?

[StayHumble11]

U might be looking at the dens on the axis? Only the thoracic vertebrae have true spinous processes. Cervical vertebrae is more like a styloid process

[cnoto34]

It has the posterior arch that protrudes.

[cnoto34]

It has a posterior vertebral arch

[Trenata]

I am really confused about this. The spinous process is the part that sticks out in the back. Every vertebrae appears to have a spinous process to me. We are looking laterally which means the spinous process faces posterior and the vertebral body faces anterior, right?

If you look at this image in wikipedia below, the red C1 - what is that sticking out in the posterior of each vertabrae and in the first vertebrae - I thought those were the spinous processes? When I look in my textbook it labels the first vertabrae as C1. This is the lateral view so, you wouldn't see the vertebral arch protruding right and the dens faces superiorly not posteriorly, right?

Atlas (anatomy) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks ya'll!

[StayHumble11]

You should definitely ask your teacher and go by what he or she says. For that is what is going to be on your exams

[Trenata]

StayHumble, I am taking an online class - I have bugged my teacher so much, but I definitely will ask her if needed. I am just not sure if I have something mixed up and wanted to verify my understanding before asking another question.

[StayHumble11]

Oh ok I understand. I just said that because sometimes things are labeled slightly different according to your instructor or book that you are using. I really hope you are able to get that clarified. In my book, the atlas has no spinous process or vertebral body.

[umbdude, MSN, APRN]

The posterior arch makes it appear as if there is a protruding process when looked at sideways, but if you look at it at a different angle you'll see that the bone itself has no process.