Superior Articular Surface of the Vertebra, Superior View

Description

Centered in a superior view, the vertebral body lies anterior, with the vertebral foramen immediately posterior forming the entrance to the spinal canal. Pedicles project posterolaterally from the body to meet the laminae, which converge toward the spinous process posteriorly. On either side, the superior articular processes rise from the junction of pedicle and lamina, their superior articular facets oriented near-vertically, while the transverse processes extend laterally from the arch. Facet cartilage is indicated over the articular surfaces. Nearly vertical superior articular facets are a cue for the cervical region, where zygapophysial (facet) joints permit coupled motion, rotation with lateral flexion, while constraining excessive anteroposterior translation. Alignment at these joints matters. Degenerative cervical facet arthropathy can produce axial neck pain and referred pain patterns, and the facet orientation helps explain why cervical subluxation and unilateral facet dislocation follow characteristic trajectories after flexion-rotation trauma. For proceduralists, the relationship between the superior articular process and the adjacent intervertebral foramen frames safe trajectories for cervical medial branch blocks and radiofrequency ablation targets, and it clarifies why small changes in needle angle can approach the vertebral artery or exiting nerve root depending on level. Anatomy faculty can drop this plate directly into a cervical spine lab, pairing it with sagittal and axial imaging to teach how the vertebral arch boundaries define canal caliber and how facet planes differ from thoracic and lumbar levels. It also supports figure needs for chapters on cervical biomechanics, whiplash-associated disorders, and posterior element pain generators, as well as patient-facing surgical education for posterior cervical approaches where the lateral mass and facet complex guide instrumentation. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.