C4 or Fourth Vertebra as, Posterior View

Description

Posteriorly, the fourth cervical vertebra (C4) is identified by its bifid spinous process projecting from the junction of the laminae, with the paired laminae forming the posterior wall of the vertebral foramen. Lateral to the midline, the superior and inferior articular processes frame the articular pillars, and the transverse processes extend laterally with the posterior tubercles visible behind the transverse foramina. The pedicles sit anterolateral to the foramen, tying the posterior elements to the vertebral body that lies anterior and is largely obscured from this perspective. Small details matter. C4 sits near the midpoint of the cervical lordosis, so a clean posterior view helps you teach how the spinous processes shorten and become bifid in the mid-cervical levels compared with C7, and how the facet orientation supports flexion extension while limiting rotation. Clinically, posterior element anatomy at C4 is referenced when localizing mid-cervical fractures and facet dislocations on radiographs or CT, and when planning posterior approaches that place lateral mass screws just medial to the transverse foramen to reduce risk to the vertebral artery. The relationship between the spinous process, lamina, and lateral mass is the operative map. Common use cases include gross anatomy labs covering cervical vertebrae identification, spine surgery teaching files that compare C4 with adjacent levels on posterior exposure, and textbook figures illustrating cervical posterior instrumentation landmarks and the course of the vertebral artery relative to the transverse processes. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.