1.3.2 Vertebral Column Flashcards
What happens to the size of the body of the vertebra going from C3 to L5?
They get progressively larger as you move caudally
What creates the the cranial/caudal opening that protect the spinal cord?
Vertebral (neural) arch
What do each of the numbers represent?
- Spinous process
- Inferior articular process and facet
- Transverse process
- Superior articular facet
- Vertebral foramen
- Vertebral body
- Lamina
- Pedicle
What do each of the following numbers represent?
- Superiour Vertebral notch
- Superiour articular process
- Transverse process
- Spinous process
- Inferior articular facet
- Inferior vertebral notch
- Vertebral body
- Pedicle
What is the role of the vertebral foramen?
Helps to form the vertebral canal containing the spinal canal
The intervertebral foramen is formed by what? It contains what?
Formed by the inferior and superior vertebral notches
Contains the dorsal root ganglion and spinal nerves
Spinous process extends posteriorly and inferiorly, and is connected by?
Interspinous ligaments and supraspinous ligaments
Transverse process originates from?
What function does it serve?
Originates from the junction of the pedicles and laminae
Serves as the site of muscle attachment
What are articular facets and what are their function?
These are at oblique angles which vary up and down the spinal cord. These limit rotation and flexion of adjacent vertebral bodies, and add stability to the vertebral column
Where do the interior articular processes face?
Face inferior and lateral
Where do the superior articular processes face?
Superior and medial
What is the pars interarticularis?
It is the portion between the superior and inferior articular facet on each vertebra. Often defective in spondylolisthesis
What are each of the parts of this image and what are their corresponding functions?
- Spinous and transverse processes - muscle attachement and movement
- Articular processes - restriction of movement
- Vertebral arch - protection of the spinal cord
- Vertebral body - Support of body weight
How can osteoporosis affect the vertebra?
This can lead to compression fractures that can trap spinal nerves. This can lead to loss of function or pain. Vertebral compression fractures affect up to 25% of postmenopausal women in the US.
What are these images of?
Vertebral body compression fractures
What is the special feature of the cervical vertebrae? What is its function?
In the cervical vertebrae, there is a cervical transverse process which has a transverse foramen for the vertebral artery.
C1 and C2 are know as what?
C1 - Atlas
C2 - Axis
At what cervical vertebrae can you first feel the spinous process?
C7
What are the important characteristics about the atlas?
What are the important characteristics about the Axis?
What vertebra provide the most rotation? Flexion/extension?
Intervertebral discs are a what?
Symphysis, or fibrocartilaginous articultation between hyaline cartilage
What positions provide the most stress on L3?
What is the anterior longitudinal ligament?
What is the posterior longitudinal ligament?
Posterior ligament becomes what at the base of the skull?
Tectorial membrane
What is spondylolysis?
What is spondylolisthesis?
What is important about the sacral hiatus?
How does the curvature of the spine change from fetus to adult?
What is kyphosis?
What are these different abnormal curvatures?
Left - Normal
Middle - Kyphosis
Right - Lordosis
What is lordosis?
What is scoliosis?
Does the spinal cord correspond to vertebral segments?
No, because the spinal cord ends at L1 or L2
Where does the spinal cord end compared to the dura mater and subarachnoid space?
The lumbar cisterna runs from L2 to S2 and contains what?
Where is a spinal tap most often performed?
L3/L4 or L4/L5
What is the order of tissue that the needle will go through when performing a spinal tap? (THIS NEEDS TO BE MEMORIZED)
What supplies blood to the spinal cord between T8 and L3?
Great ventral medullary artery of Adamkiewicz
This artery comes for inferior intercostals or superior lumbar arteries
Explain the venous drainage of the spinal cord.
What are the importance of longitudinal arteries?
What are the importance of the intrinsic arteries?
What is a rhizotomy?
