C6 Vertebra, Lateral View

Description

C6 is rendered in lateral profile with the vertebral body positioned anteriorly and the vertebral arch and spinous process projecting posteriorly. The superior and inferior articular processes form the zygapophysial (facet) joints, sloping to guide flexion and extension while limiting rotation compared with the upper cervical spine. Along the transverse process, both anterior and posterior tubercles are distinct, separated by the transverse foramen, a key landmark for the vertebral artery as it ascends through the cervical vertebrae. Proximally, the pedicle and lamina bridge body to posterior elements, enclosing the vertebral foramen. Clinically, C6 matters because its transverse process contains the carotid tubercle (anterior tubercle of C6), the classic site for manual compression of the common carotid artery against the cervical spine in hemorrhage control and for palpation during neck examination. The lateral view also clarifies how uncovertebral joints (of Luschka) relate to the posterolateral margins of the vertebral body, a common origin for osteophytes that can narrow the intervertebral foramen and contribute to C6 radiculopathy. This orientation matches how surgeons and radiologists think about anterior cervical discectomy and fusion planning, where foraminal height, facet alignment, and the course of the vertebral artery at the transverse foramen influence approach and risk. Use this artwork for cervical spine anatomy lectures, neurosurgery or orthopaedics teaching files, and figure plates discussing foraminal stenosis, whiplash mechanics, or landmark-based neck examination. It also fits well in radiology correlation pages alongside lateral cervical radiographs and CT reconstructions when labeling C6-specific osseous landmarks. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.