Anatomy - vertebrae & bony thorax Flashcards
How many vertebrae in an adult?
26 vertebrae
How many vertebrae in an infant?
33 vertebrae
What makes up adult vertebrae column
7 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
1 sacrum (5 fused to become 1)
1 coccyx (4 fused to become 1)
What makes up infant vertebrae column
7 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
4 coccygeal
In a AP/PA vertebrae column should be:
Straight
In a lateral, the vertebrae column is what? infant vs adult
Curved (1 in infant, 4 in adult)
Normal Curves in Adult: primary
Thoracic and Sacrum/Coccyx - kyphotic curves
Reasons for curves in adults
Increase the strength of the vertebral column, Helps maintain balance by distributing the weight, Helps absorb shock, Helps protect the vertebrae from fractures
Normal lordotic curve in lateral position:
Concave: posterior and convex: anterior
list abnormal curves
Kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis
Vertebrae consist of
Vertebral Body, Vertebral Arch, Vertebral foramen
Vertebral foramen purpose
Where the spinal cord passes through
Vertebral Body contains
Mostly spongy/trabecular bone (with RBM) surrounded by thin layer of compact bone, and is bounded by anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments
The vertebral body is
Separated by intervertebral discs and is the weight-bearing part
Vertebral column functions
forms trunk of skeleton, flexible movement, protects spinal cord, supports head, rib attachment, back muscle attachment
Normal Curves in Adult: secondary
Cervical and lumbar - lordotic curves (remember: both words have an “L” - so goes with lordotic)
Thoracic & sacrum/coccyx VS. cervical & lumbar curves
Thoracic & sacrum/coccyx - don’t change (present during development)
Cervical & lumbar curves - do change (form later on)
Normal thoracic/sacrum curve in lateral position:
concave: anteriorly, convex: posteriorly
Explain kyphosis
Exaggeration of the normal kyphotic curve in the thoracic region, mostly in elderly women - osteoporosis (weakened spine causes compression fractures & a lot of force)
Explain lordosis
Exaggeration of the normal lordotic curve - in the cervical and lumbar spine
Explain scoliosis
Abnormal LATERAL curvature of the spine - the vertebra body rotates towards the convex side of the curve*
Why is kyphosis only in the thoracic region, why can’t it get bigger?
because they’re fused
Can patient have kyphosis without lordosis (one without the other)
No, if you develop one, you develop another
Risk of leaving spine curved in scoliosis
breathing issues - because it messes up the lungs / diaphragm