Third Cervical Vertebra, Lateral View

Description

Viewed laterally, the third cervical vertebra (C3) presents the low, rectangular vertebral body anteriorly and the vertebral arch posterior to it, forming the vertebral canal in profile. The pedicle and lamina converge toward a short, often bifid spinous process posteriorly, while the superior and inferior articular processes project at the articular pillars between adjacent levels. Laterally, the transverse process extends from the junction of pedicle and lamina and contains the transverse foramen, positioned anterolateral to the facet joints. A mid-cervical silhouette. For teaching and clinical communication, C3 matters because it sits at the junction where head and upper neck motion transitions into the more constrained mid-cervical mechanics, with the zygapophysial joints guiding rotation and extension. This is also a level where degenerative change and uncovertebral joint osteophytes (classically C3 to C7) can narrow the intervertebral foramen and contribute to cervical radiculopathy patterns, even when the disc space looks only mildly reduced on plain radiographs. The lateral projection helps explain how disc height loss translates into foraminal compromise and segmental kyphosis. Use this artwork in gross anatomy and spine biomechanics courses, in radiology teaching files that correlate lateral cervical radiographs with osseous landmarks, or in operative planning materials that describe anterior cervical approaches and level localization around C3. It also reads well in patient-facing spine education when you need a clean, single-vertebra reference rather than a full column. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.