BONES & LANDMARKS
The opening between adjacent vertebrae through which spinal nerves exit.
What is the intervertebral foramen?
These vertebrae are distinguished by transverse foramina.
What are cervical vertebrae?
This large superficial neck muscle runs from the sternum and clavicle to the mastoid process.
What is sternocleidomastoid (SCM)?
This muscle closes the eyelids.
What is orbicularis oculi?
This cranial nerve innervates the muscles of facial expression.
What is the facial nerve (CN VII)?
The skull suture formed where the frontal bone meets the two parietal bones.
What is the coronal suture?
These vertebrae typically have large bodies adapted for weight bearing and no costal facets.
What are lumbar vertebrae?
These two deep anterior cervical muscles contribute to cervical flexion and stabilization.
What are longus capitis and longus colli?
Palpate along the lateral ramus of the mandible while clenching the teeth to feel this muscle.
What is the masseter?
CHEW: The mandibular division of this cranial nerve supplies the primary muscles of mastication.
What is the trigeminal nerve (CN V)?
This cervical vertebral opening transmits the vertebral artery.
What is the transverse foramen?
Put the erector spinae columns in order from medial to lateral.
What are spinalis → longissimus → iliocostalis?
This posterior neck muscle contributes to ipsilateral rotation.
What is splenius capitis? (think “splenius = same side)
This facial-expression muscle helps keep food positioned in the oral cavity and may contribute to food pocketing if weak.
What is the buccinator?
SHRUG / TURN: This cranial nerve provides primary motor innervation to SCM and trapezius.
What is the accessory nerve (CN XI)?
A vertebra has costal facets for rib articulation. Identify the region of the vertebra.
What is a thoracic vertebra?
These deep intrinsic back muscles occupy the groove between the transverse and spinous processes and include multifidus and semispinalis.
What is the transversospinalis group?
To rotate the head RIGHT, this pair can work together: one SCM plus one splenius capitis.
What are the LEFT SCM and RIGHT splenius capitis?
These muscles elevate the hyoid during swallowing.
What are the suprahyoid muscles?
TONGUE: This cranial nerve provides motor innervation to most intrinsic and extrinsic tongue muscles.
What is the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)?
This joint between C1 and C2 allows much of the head movement used to say “no.”
What is the atlantoaxial joint?
Compression of a spinal nerve root causing sensory and/or motor changes is called this.
What is radiculopathy?
This abdominal muscle pair works synergistically to rotate the trunk RIGHT.
What are the LEFT external oblique and RIGHT internal oblique?
Name two of four primary muscles of mastication.
What are masseter, temporalis, medial pterygoid, and lateral pterygoid? any two is fine
A peripheral lesion causes weakness of the entire RIGHT side of the face. Name the nerve and side affected.
What is the RIGHT facial nerve (CN VII)?