Which anatomical structures of the cervical spine are best visualized in a lateral projection?

In a lateral projection of the cervical spine, the anatomical structures that are best visualized include the zygapophyseal joints. This projection allows for a clear view of these joints, which are the articulating surfaces between adjacent vertebrae. These joints are important for understanding the range of motion in the cervical region and can help in diagnosing conditions like arthritis or other degenerative changes.

The lateral view provides a specific angle that highlights the relationship between the vertebrae and the orientation of the zygapophyseal joints, which sit posteriorly and slightly superiorly to the vertebral bodies. This angle of visualization prevents superimposition from other structures, making it easier to assess for pathologies that might affect the joints.

Other structures are not as clearly visualized in this projection. For example, intervertebral discs may be more difficult to assess since they are not as prominently defined in a lateral view, and the spinal nerves are typically not visualized at all in standard radiography. The transverse processes, while visible, do not provide as much diagnostic information as the zygapophyseal joints do in this specific view.