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)
Function of supraspinal ligament?
Attaches to distal end of spinous process
Contributes to knob like appearance of them
Function of ligamentum flavum?
Passes between laminae of adjacent vertebrae
What are the joints between the vertebra and rib?
Costo-vertebal joints
What are the joints between the articular processes of vertebrae?
Zygapophyseal joints
What are the joints between vertebral bodies?
Amphiarthrodial joints
Properties of cervical vertebrae
Most superior segment 7 vertebrae: -2 specialised -4 typical -1 transitional Articulate with eachother at the inferior and superior facets and the IV discs Transverse foramina Bifid spinous processes
Describe C1/Atlas
No body or disc, just a ring of bone
No spinous process
Superior articular facet is cup shaped
Anterior tubercle
Descibe C2/Axis
Modified body (odontoid process)
Allows for rotation of head
Prominent spinous process
Properties of Thoracic vertebral segment
12 vertebrae
Articular facets more vertical than in cervical region
Spinous processes point inferiorly
(look like a giraffe)
Articulate with inferior and superior articular facets
Properties of Lumbar vertebral segment
5 vertebrae
Robust
Weight bearing - big, broad, kidney shaped body
Little movement
Articular facets almost perpendicular to body
Square spinous processes
Articulate with inferior/superior articular facets and IV discs
Properties of sacral vertebrae segment
Segmented structure
Fused in adults
5 segments
Articulates with L5, coccyx and ilium
Properties of the coccyx
Variable Important for soft tissue attachment Evolutionary remnants of tail 4-5 vertebrae Articulates with sacrum
Non-metric traits of vertebral column
Accessory cervical foramen
Kyphosis/Lordosis
Fusion of vertebrae (Klippel-Feil Syndrome)
Atlanto-Occipital fusion
