What are the first 2 vertebrae?

Overview. The cervical spine is made up of 7 vertebrae. The first 2, C1 and C2, are highly specialized and are given unique names: atlas and axis, respectively.

What is the first bone of the vertebral column?

In Greek mythology, Atlas was a titan who held the entire world on his shoulders. As the first vertebra in the column, Atlas in sense holds up the skull. C2 is also called the axis. The axis allows both the skull and the atlas to rotate, so the head can be turned from side to side by neck muscles.

What is the name of the top two bones in your spinal column?

The spine itself has three main segments: the cervical spine, the thoracic spine, and the lumbar spine. The cervical is the upper part of the spine, made up of seven vertebrae (bones). The thoracic is the center portion of the spine, consisting of 12 vertebrae. The lower portion of the spine is called the lumbar spine.

What are the two main parts of the vertebrae?

A vertebra consists of two parts: an anterior segment, or the vertebral body; and a posterior part, or the vertebral (neural) arch.

What is the first vertebra called?

The first vertebra (C1) is the ring-shaped atlas that connects directly to the skull. This joint allows for the nodding or “yes” motion of the head. The second vertebra (C2) is the peg-shaped axis, which has a projection called the odontoid, that the atlas pivots around.

What are the different parts of the back?

As mentioned above, our vertebrae are numbered and divided into five regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx. Did you know? Only the top 24 bones are moveable. The vertebrae of the sacrum and coccyx are fused.

What is the name of the 26 vertebrae?

The spine, also known as the vertebral column or spinal column, is a column of 26 bones in an adult body — 24 separate vertebrae interspaced with cartilage, and then additionally the sacrum and coccyx.

What is the 2nd cervical vertebra called?

The second cervical vertebra is the axis (Fig. 3). Its vertebral body is formed by fusion with the vertebral body of the atlas to form the odontoid process (or dens), which is completely separate from the atlas. The laminae of the axis are very well developed and blend into a bifid spinous process.

Which is the first vertebrae in the vertebral column?

Figure 6.13 The bones of the vertebral column. The first two cervical vertebrae have alternate names to C1 and C2. C1 is also called the atlas. In Greek mythology, Atlas was a titan who held the entire world on his shoulders. As the first vertebra in the column, Atlas in sense holds up the skull.

How many bones are in the vertebral column?

The spine or backbone consists of 26 small bones or vertebrae. It is also known as the vertebral column. The vertebral column is a part of the axial skeleton, which comprises the skull, ribs and sternum other than the vertebral column. The notochord present in the embryonic stage is replaced by the vertebral column.

What is the name of the first two bones of the spine?

What is the name of the first two bones of spine? The name of the first bone of spine is Atlas and the second bone of spine is known as Axis. They are the first two cervical vertebrae.

What makes up the body of the vertebra?

All vertebrae, except C1 and C2, the atlas and axis, have a solid round portion on their anterior side called the body of the vertebra. The body is what allows the vertebrae in the vertebral column to be stacked upon one another, separated by pads of fibrocartilage called the intervertebral discs.

What are the first 2 vertebrae? Overview. The cervical spine is made up of 7 vertebrae. The first 2, C1 and C2, are highly specialized and are given unique names: atlas and axis, respectively. What is the first bone of the vertebral column? In Greek mythology, Atlas was a titan who held the entire world…