Overview
Cattle have seven cervical vertebrae. The atlas (C1) and the axis (C2) are very different; the third to the seventh share a similar plan and are described here together. They form a neck that is shorter and more muscular than the horse's and carries a heavy head.
Key features
- Body (corpus vertebrae): with a convex cranial end (head) and a concave caudal end (fossa); its ventral surface carries a ventral crest. The intervertebral discs lie between the bodies.
- Arch and vertebral canal: wide; in the caudal neck they house the cervical intumescence of the spinal cord, which gives rise to the nerves of the brachial plexus.
- Transverse processes and transverse foramen: from C3 to C6 the base of the transverse process is pierced by the transverse foramen; the row of foramina forms the canal for the vertebral artery and vein. On C6 the ventral part of the process forms a wide plate, the ventral lamina.
- Spinous processes: grow taller from C3 to C7.
- Articular processes: large, with wide surfaces that allow lateral and dorsoventral movement of the neck.
- Seventh cervical (C7): transitional towards the thorax. It has no transverse foramen, its spinous process is the tallest of the series and the caudal border of its body carries a costal fovea for the head of the first rib.
Clinical relevance
- Intramuscular and subcutaneous injections: in cattle they are recommended in the side of the neck, within the triangle bounded dorsally by the nuchal ligament, ventrally by the cervical vertebrae and caudally by the scapula; this avoids damage to the valuable cuts of meat.
- Vertebral osteomyelitis: in calves, vertebral body abscesses from blood-borne bacterial spread can compress the spinal cord, causing neck pain, ataxia and paresis.
- Fractures and luxations: uncommon; they follow severe trauma.