C4 Vertebra

Description

C4 occupies the mid-cervical spine between C3 superiorly and C5 inferiorly, with the vertebral body anterior and the bifid spinous process posterior. Lateral to the body, the pedicles lead into the laminae and transverse processes, which in the cervical region incorporate the transverse foramina for the vertebral artery and accompanying veins. Superior and inferior articular processes project posterolaterally, their zygapophyseal facets oriented to permit coupled flexion, extension, and rotation while limiting excessive translation. Compact scale, complex motion. Facet orientation at C4 matters because it helps explain the characteristic kinematics of the cervical vertebrae and the injury patterns seen after hyperextension or rotational trauma. Degenerative change at the C3 to C4 and C4 to C5 uncovertebral joints and zygapophyseal joints can narrow the intervertebral foramen and contribute to C4 radiculopathy, while osteophytes and disc height loss may secondarily reduce the space available for the spinal cord. Anterior approaches to the mid-cervical spine also depend on reliable landmarks at this level, including the uncinate processes bordering the posterolateral vertebral body and the expected course of the vertebral artery within the transverse foramen. Use this asset in cervical spine anatomy and biomechanics teaching, where students need a clean reference for naming the vertebral arch, articular pillars, and transverse foramina in proper anatomical terms. It also supports orthopedic, neurosurgical, and radiology publications discussing cervical spondylosis, whiplash mechanisms, and level-specific surgical planning at C4. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.