Third Cervical Vertebra

Description

Centered on C3 within the mid-cervical column, the model presents the vertebral body anteriorly, the vertebral arch posteriorly, and the short bifid spinous process projecting dorsally in typical fashion for C3. Laterally, each transverse process contains a transverse foramen (foramen transversarium), positioned anterolateral to the pedicle and posterior to the anterior tubercle, forming the bony canal that guides the vertebral vessels. Adjacent vertebrae and the intervertebral discs are included, letting you judge C3 in context, with disc height separating vertebral bodies and facet joints stacking posterolaterally. C3 matters because it sits at a common intersection of biomechanics and neurovascular routing, where minor changes in alignment or osteophyte formation can narrow the intervertebral foramen and irritate the exiting C3 spinal nerve. A clear lateral perspective also helps explain how the vertebral artery typically enters the transverse foramen at C6 but ascends through the transverse foramina to C1, so congenital narrowing, fracture lines through the transverse process, or uncinate process hypertrophy can have vascular implications as well as radicular ones. Small bone, high stakes. Use this asset for gross anatomy and neuroanatomy teaching when introducing typical cervical vertebrae, or in radiology and spine surgery materials that correlate lateral cervical radiographs and CT reconstructions with surface landmarks like the spinous processes and disc spaces. It also fits patient-facing education on cervical spondylosis, whiplash mechanics, and foraminal stenosis when you need a clean bony reference without soft-tissue distraction. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.