3.1 Osteology and Radiology (Vertebrae)

Question 1

Name the segments of the vertebral column and state how many vertebra are in each

Answer 1

Cervical → 7
Thoracic → 12
Lumbar → 5
Sacral → 5 fused
Coccyx → 3-4 fused (tail bone)

Question 2

Describe the curvature of the vertebral column in a foetus vs an adult

Answer 2

Foetus:

• Flexed in single c-shaped curvature
• Primary curvature (maintained in thoracic, sacral and coccygeal regions)

Young adult:

• Secondary Curvature:
• 1) Cervical
• 2) Lumbar

Question 3

What separates each bony vertebrae?

Answer 3

IV Discs

Question 4

Give 3 general characteristics of a typical vertebra

Answer 4

1) rounded body anteriorly
2) vertebral arch posteriorly
3) vertebral foramen: passageway for spinal cord and meninges

Question 5

The vertebral arch gives rise to 7 processes (projections off it), name these

Answer 5

x2 articular process (zygapophyses)

x2 transverse process

1 spinous process

Question 6

Label the image of a typical spinal vertebra

Answer 6

Question 7

Which vertebral segment does each vertebra belong to?

Answer 7

Question 8

What do cervical vertebrae articulate with above and below?

Give 3 primary functions of these vertebra

Answer 8

Articulate with the thoracic spine below, skull above

Functions:

• support skull
• allow skull movement
• transmit nervous and vascular structures

Question 9

Why are there 8 cervical nerves but 7 cervical vertebra?

Compare this to the rest of the vertebral segments

Answer 9

Nerves exiting cervical spine are labeled according to the the vertebra above (ie C1 nerve comes out above C1)

The rest of the vertebral nerves are labelled according to the vertebra below (ie T1 nerve comes out below T1)

Question 10

Give 4 characteristics of typical cervical vertebra?

Answer 10

C2- C6 (smallest of the vertebra)

Characteristics:

• bifid spinous process
• transverse foramen in the transverse process (conduit for vertebral a. and v. except C7)
• large triangular vertebral formen
• small dome shaped body (edges form upwards facing lips = uncinate process)

Question 11

Label the image of a typical cervical vertebra below

Answer 11

Question 12

What are the 3 atypical cervical vertebra?

Give features of each

Answer 12

C1 → ATLAS

• NO body
• NO spinous processes

C2 → AXIS

• Odontoid process (Dens)

C7 → No special name

• No bifid spinous process
• Spinous process called vertebral prominence

Question 13

Label the image of C1 and C2

Answer 13

Question 14

At which junction do vertebra articulate to allow us to say YES or NO

Answer 14

Nodding head is done at the junction of the atlas on the skull (YES) ➞ Atlanto-occipital joint

Shaking head is done at the C1-C2 junction (NO) ➞ Atlanto-axial joint

Question 15

Lateral view of the neck, label thd 3 lines below

How are these lines useful?

Answer 15

Help determine if there is displacement of the neck

Anterior: anterior part of the cervical body
Posterior: posterior part of the cervical body
Spinolaminar: back mark of the spinal cord

Question 16

What is a Jefferson’s Fracture and how may it occur?

Would there be neural signs? Why or why not?

Answer 16

Fracture of Atlas = C1

Can occur in a head first fall from height (e.g. diving into pool and hitting head on bottom)

Patient would be in Pain, but typically there would be no neural signs because there is not much displaced bone to press on the spinal cord within

Question 17

What is a Hangman’s Fracture and how may it occur?

Would there be neural signs? Why or why not?

Answer 17

Fracture of Axis = posterior C2

Can occur during hyperextension of the head on the neck (eg. whiplash)

Unstable and more severe that fracture of C1. Neural signs may be present due to pressure on spinal cord