Anterior cervical plating system

Plate (2, 120, 230) adapted for application to the anterior cervical spine human to contact the above forms at least two vertebral bodies cervical to fuse together, said plate (2, 120, 230) comprising: a longitudinal axis, being concave lower surface (27) along a substantial portion of the longitudinal axis of said plate (2, 120, 230) and being adapted to contact the cervical vertebral bodies and an upper surface opposed to said bottom surface (27); at least three holes (6, 8) receiving bone screws which extend through said plate (2, 120, 230) from said upper through said lower surface area (27), each of said holes receiving bone screws (6, 8) a central longitudinal axis and a radius, being adapted each of said receiving holes bone screws (6, 8) to receive a screw for engaging said plate (2, 120, 230) with the cervical spine; and a recess (12, 14, 304) for locking elements adapted to receive a locking element (20, 21, 25, 300) to block the screws (30) to said plate (2, 120, 230), said recess (12, 14, 304) locking a central longitudinal axis and a radius; characterized in that at least three receiving holes bone screws (6, 8) are positioned proximate said recess locking element so that the distance between the central longitudinal axis of said recess (12, 14, 304) and the longitudinal axis center of each of the receiving holes bone screws (6, 8) is less than the sum of the radius of the recess (12, 14, 304) for locking and each of the receiving holes bone screws (6 , 8), respectively, with threaded recesses (12, 14, 304) to cooperatively engage the locking element (20, 21, 25, 300).