Anatomy of the Spine Flashcards
Classification of Vertebrae from top to bottom.
Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacral (tail bone) Coccygeal
Which sets of vertebrae fuse together to form one vertebrae in adults
Sacral (tailbone) forms the sacrum Coccygeal form the coccyx
There are _ Cerivcal Vertebrae _ Thoracic Vertebrae _ Lumbar Vertebrae _ Sacral (unfused) Vertebrae _ Coccygeal (unfused) Vertebrae
7 12 5 5 4
How many vertebrae do we have total?
33
What is another name for the C1 Vertebra?
Atlas
Why is the opening of the C1 Vertebra so large?
Because the spinal cord is wider where it exits the brain and skull
Memorize this diagram
What is another name for the C2 Vertebra?
Axis
What is the most distinguishable feature in the C2 Vertebra that lets you notice it in scans?
The Dens
What is the dens? What is its purpose?
Large bony knob at top of C2. Points up and fits through a hole in the axis (connective).
Memorize this diagram of the components of a vertebrae
Name of the bony knob that projects out at the point where two lamina bones join together (at back of spine)
Spinous Process
The cervical vertebrae in specific have a hole that passes down through each transverse process. What is it called and why is it useful?
Transverse foramen
Makes a passageway for ateries that run up each side of the neck to supply back of the brain.
What part of the vertebrae is lateral to the superior articular facet and serves as a point for muscle attachment?
Transverse Process
What are the joints that connect the vertebrae? How many does each vertebrae have?
Facet Joints
Besides the very top and very bototm spinal column, all vertebra have 2 facets (one on each side)
Name for opening on each side of the spine between two vetebral bodies where nerves leaving the spine go
Neural Foramen
What types of cells make up the intervertebral discs?
Collagen cells
Remember this diagram
Remember these types of disc problems
What are the 5 types of ligaments in the spine and briefly describe their function. Remember SILPA
Supraspinous - Run between and connect spinous process
Interspinous - Run between and connect spinous process
Ligamentum Flavum - connects to front surface of lamina bones
Posterior Longitudinal - Attaches on back of vertebral bodies
Anterior longitudinal - down the front of vertebral bodies
Layers of spinal meninges
Pia Mater - Lines spinal cord and nerve roots
Arachnoid mater
Dura mater - dense outermost layer
Spaces of the spinal meninges
Subarachnoid - between pia and arachnoid
Subdural - Potential space between arachnoid and dura
Epidural - Potential space external to dura mater
Remember this nice cross section view of the spinal meninges
How many total spinal nerves are there?
30
Where does the C1 spinal nerve arise?
Superior to the C1 Vertebral body
General rule for spinal nerves in the cervical region of the spinal cord
The spinal nerve for a vertebra lies ABOVE the vertebra. Ex. C4 spinal nerve is between C3 and C4
BUT, there’s also the C8 nerve which is actually just between the C7 and T1 Vertebra
Rules for naming spinal nerves OUTSIDE OF the Cervical section
Named after the superior vertebra. Example, L1-L2 foramen -> L1 nerve
Approximately where does the spinal cord end?
Between the L1 and L2
What distinguishes the C1 spinal nerve from the others?
C1 is the only nevre to carry ONLY motor fibres. The others carry sensory and moto
What are the lines often shown in radiographs to show the alignment of the cervical vertebra
Anterior Cervical line
Posterior Cervical line
Spinolaminal line
What is a jefferson fracture and how does it form?
Burst fracture of the ring of C1
Compressibe downward force that is transmitted evenly through the skull
