The Cervical Vertebrae

Found in the neck region.

Have vertebraterial canals in the transverse processes for passage of vertebral artery.

The first two atlas and axis are distinct from the rest of the cervical vertebrae.

Atlas

Has a small neural spine and the centrum.

The neural canal is wide for passage of the large spinal cord in the neck region.

Have broad and wing-like transverse processes offering a large surface area for attachment of neck muscles.

It has broad facets for articulation with the condyles of the skull. This forms a joint which allows nodding (up and down movement) of the head.

Axis

It is the second cervical vertebra on the neck region.

Its special feature is that the centrum is broad and projects in front to form an odontoid process.

This forms a peg which fits into the ventral side of the neural canal of the atlas.

The joint formed allows the turning (rotatory) movement of the head.

Has broad neural spine, wide neural canal and wing-like transverse processes.

The other five cervical vertebrae

Possess broad and branched transverse processes to offer large surface area for attachment of neck muscle.

Have short neural spines but with neural canals and wide centrum.

They possess the prezygapophysis and prezygapophysis.