2. Vertebral Column Flashcards
Typically, how many elements in the vertebral column?
33 elements
24 separate, others fused
What are the names of the 5 segments?
Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Coccygeal
What type of joint articulation between successive vertebrae?
Synovial joints
Three primary functions of vertebrae?
Transmit body weight
Attachment site for muscles and ligaments
Protect spinal cord
What are vertebrae derived from?
Somites
What are the two types of curvature?
Primary - present at birth, in thoracic and sacral segments, kyphotic
Secondary - acquired over time, in cervical and lumbar, lordotic
What is the body of vertebrae composed of?
Spongy bone
What makes up the neural arch?
Pedicle - attached to body
Lamina - links spinous and transverse processes
What is the change of size in vertebral foramen?
Decrease in size as you go down the spine
Body increases for weight bearing
What do superior and inferior articular facets do?
Join adjacent vertebrae
function of IV discs and ligaments?
Cushion vertebral column
What makes up the IV discs?
Annulus fibrosus - ligament around the outside of the disc
Nucleus pulposus - sits inside annulus fibrosus
Where is the anterior longitudinal ligament?
Runs from occipital to sacrum down the anterior of the vertebral bodies
Where is the posterior longitudinal ligament?
Axis to sacrum along the posterior bodies in vertebral foramen
Function of interspinal ligament?
Holds spinous processes together
Gives them their topography (aka not smooth)
