C5 Vertebra, Gross Anatomy

Description

Centered on the midcervical spine, the highlighted C5 vertebra sits between C4 superiorly and C6 inferiorly, with a small, rectangular vertebral body anteriorly and a large, triangular vertebral foramen posterior to it. Paired pedicles and laminae form the vertebral arch, converging at a short, often bifid spinous process projecting posteriorly. Laterally, the transverse processes extend to each side and include the transverse foramina, while the superior and inferior articular processes align in stacked facet joints at the posterolateral margins. C5 matters because it lies at a common fulcrum for degenerative change in the lower cervical spine, where uncovertebral osteophytes and facet arthrosis can narrow the intervertebral foramen and contribute to C5 radiculopathy. The transverse foramen is a fixed landmark for the vertebral artery and accompanying venous plexus, which is why anterior cervical approaches and lateral mass screw trajectories respect the lateral border of the uncinate process and the course of the artery. Small differences in the typical cervical morphology, such as the depth of the vertebral foramen or the orientation of the facet joints, also affect how clinicians interpret oblique radiographs, CT, and MRI when assessing canal stenosis or alignment after trauma. Clear bony geometry. No distraction. Use this artwork in gross anatomy and neuroanatomy teaching blocks to orient learners to the cervical vertebrae, or in spine surgery and radiology publications to support discussions of C5-C6 spondylosis, foraminal stenosis, and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion landmarks. It also fits patient education materials explaining why neck arthritis can refer pain into the shoulder and lateral arm in a C5 pattern. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.