Question

The following statement is written in the radiology report of an MRI scan of the cervical spine: ‘A large osteophyte is emanating from the posterolateral area of the vertebral body of the vertebra immediately above the C3 nerve root and is severely compressing the C3 nerve root’. The osteophyte is most likely emanating from which of the following vertebrae?

Answer 1

Answer: The Osteophyte is emanating from the Posterolateral Area of C2.

Explanation: The Cervical Plexus consists of 8 nerve roots, from C1-C8, and the Cervical Column consists of 7 vertebrae, from C1-C7.

The first nerve root (C1) emerges above the body C1 vertebra.

The second nerve root (C2) emerges below the body C1 and above C2's body vertebra.

The third nerve root (C3) emerges below the body of C2 and above C3's body vertebra.

The fourth nerve root (C4) emerges below the body of C3 and above C4's body.

The fifth nerve root (C5) emerges below the body of C4, and above the body of C5.

The sixth nerve root (C6) emerges below the body of C5 and above the body of C6

The seventh nerve root (C7) emerges below the body of C6 and above the body of C7.

The eighth nerve root (C8) emerges below the body of C7 and above the body of T1.