Cervical Spine, Lateral View

Description

Viewed in lateral profile, the cervical portion of the vertebral column is arranged from the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) superiorly to the vertebra prominens (C7) inferiorly, with the intervertebral discs interposed between C2 to C7. The anterior surfaces of the vertebral bodies form a gentle cervical lordosis, while the spinous processes project posteriorly, increasing in prominence toward the cervicothoracic junction. Superior articular facets sit posterolateral to the vertebral bodies, defining the zygapophysial joints that guide flexion and extension in the neck. Alignment matters. Sagittal cervical alignment is a daily clinical problem, not an academic one, because loss of lordosis or a segmental kyphosis often accompanies acute whiplash, muscle spasm, or degenerative disc disease. This lateral perspective also helps clarify where cervical spondylosis narrows the intervertebral foramina, most often at C5 to C6 and C6 to C7, correlating with C6 or C7 radiculopathy and the classic patterns of pain, paresthesia, and reflex change. Surgeons planning an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) think in this plane, assessing disc height, osteophyte formation, and overall sagittal balance. Use this illustration in gross anatomy and musculoskeletal modules to teach cervical lordosis, vertebral level identification, and the relationship between vertebral bodies, discs, and posterior elements. It also fits radiology and spine surgery teaching files as a clean reference alongside lateral cervical radiographs, CT sagittal reconstructions, or MRI midline sagittal images in adult male patients. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.