Skull and Spine in Sagittal Section, Lateral View

Description

Presented in lateral profile with a mid-sagittal section, the cranial vault (calvaria) and cranial base frame the cerebral hemispheres, corpus callosum, cerebellum, and brainstem in continuous alignment with the cervical spinal cord. Inferior to the foramen magnum, the medulla oblongata transitions into the cord within the vertebral canal, while the cervical vertebrae stack anterior to the spinal cord and establish the cervical lordosis. Posterior elements (spinous processes) fall dorsally, and the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs lie ventral to the canal, clarifying the anterior to posterior depth of the vertebral column. Paired spinal nerve roots exit laterally at segmental levels. This lateral sagittal relationship matters most at the craniovertebral junction. Atlanto-occipital alignment and the C1 to C2 complex define the corridor where basilar invagination, atlantoaxial instability, or Chiari I malformation can compromise the cervicomedullary junction and produce long-tract signs, lower cranial nerve symptoms, or occipital headaches. The continuous brainstem to cord depiction also supports teaching of dural continuity and why cervical flexion and extension change canal caliber in spondylotic myelopathy. Small shifts here have consequences. Use this artwork for neuroanatomy and head and neck anatomy courses when introducing sagittal section orientation, CSF pathway discussions, or the biomechanical basis of cervical curves, and for textbook or journal figures explaining craniovertebral pathology, posterior fossa decompression planning, or midline surgical approaches to the upper cervical spine. It also fits patient-facing education on whiplash and cervical stenosis when a clear profile of the skull and backbone is needed. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.