AXIAL SKELETON
THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN - Cervical Vertebrae C2 = Axis

    Clues to look for:
  1. a round hole on the transverse processes = transverse foramen (clue to identify any cervical vertebrae).
  2. a little head on the top (clue to recognise C2). This is the odontoid process (= dens). It acts as pivot for the rotation of Atlas (=C1) and allow you to rotate your head from one side to another as in gesturing "NO".