Anatomy of C - Spine Flashcards
How many bones is the vertebral column made up of ?
33
What are the categories of the vertebral column
7 Cervical vertebrae (C1-C7)
12 Thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12)
5 Lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5)
5 (usually all fused) Sacral vertebrae (S1-S5)
4 (some fused) Coccygeal vertebrae (Co1-Co4)
What is Kyphosis ?
Where in the spine should you expect to see kyphosis ?
Kyphosis – curve outwards (posteriorly) – Primary
Thoracic kyphosis
Primary – Exists in the foetus
What is lordosis ?
Where would you expect there to be lordosis ?
Lordosis – curve inward (anteriorly) – Secondary
Cervical lordosis
Secondary – Supports the weight of the head
Sacral kyphosis
Primary – Exists in the foetus
What is 1?
Vertebral body
What is 3?
What is it ?
Where is found ?
Transverse foramen
The transverse foramen (foramen transversarium) of cervical vertebrae is an opening that is occupied by the vertebral artery and vein in the first six vertebrae and only the vertebral vein in the seventh
What is 4?
Anterior transverse process
What is 5 ?
Posterior transverse process
What is 6 ?
Lamina
What is 7 ?
Spinous process
What is 8 ?
Inferior articular process
What is 9 ?
Superior articular process
What is 10 ?
Vertebral pedicle
What is the atlas ?
The first cervical vertebrae (C1) is known as the atlas.
What is the axis ?
The second cervical vertebrae (C2) is known as the axis.
How does the atlas differ from the axis ?
Atlas
The atlas is the first cervical vertebra
no vertebral body
no spinous process.
Instead, the atlas has lateral masses Each lateral mass contains a superior articular facet (for articulation with occipital condyles), and an inferior articular facet (for articulation with C2).
Axis
The axis (C2) is easily identifiable due to its dens (odontoid process).
The dens articulates with the anterior arch of the atlas, in doing so creating the medial atlanto-axial joint. This allows for rotation of the head independently of the torso.
