Cervical Anatomy and Pathology - Articular Pillar

Sagittal section through the lateral portion of the articular pillar of a normal midcervical spine. The articular masses, composed of superior and inferior articular processes and a virtual pars interarticularis, are roughly rhomboid and carry obliquely sloping articular facets dorso–superiorly and ventro–inferiorly. Circumferentially meniscoid synoviat folds (tags) project into the zygapophyseal or facet joints. Anterior to the upper articular process deep notches accommodate the root sleeve, ganglion portion of the root and the postganglionic cervical spinal nerve. This section also displays the vertebral artery (black) in the transverse foramina of the vertebrae. Anteriorly the artery is bounded by the thin bony shell of the rib antage portion of the composite transverse process.