Axial Skeleton Flashcards
Cervical and Lumbar Curvatures
Concave Posteriorly
Thoracic and Sacral Curvatures
Convex Posteriorly
Body of Vertebrae
Weight-bearing region
Vertebral Foramen
Location of the spinal cord
Superior/Inferior Articular Processes
Form joints with those of adjacent vertebrae
Pedicle
Stout connection between the body and rest of the vertebra
Intervertebral Foramina
Above and below Pedicle
- notches allowing for passage of spinal nerves
Lamina
Flat region connecting spinous process to rest of vertebra
Cervical Vertebrae
Allow flexibility in neck
Transverse Foramen
ONLY in ALL cervical vertebra and within the transverse process. Allow the passage of the vertebral artery to the brain
Axis
C1 - No vertebral body and articulates with the skull
Axis
C2 - Contains projection (dens) that fits into the vertebral foramen of C1
Dens
Adds additional support to C1 from slipping posteriorly over the surface of C2
Thoracic Vertebrae
Long, downward, sloping spinous processes and articulation with ribs
Superior and inferior costal facets
Articulations on the vertebral body
Transverse Costal Facets
Indicate where the transverse processes form a joint with the rib
Lumbar Vertebrae
Most massive vertebral bodies and support large amount of body weight
Sacrum
Formed by 5 sacral vertebral bodies during development
Median Sacral Crest
Spinous processes likewise fuse to form this
Alae
Transverse processes fuse to form wings
Sacral Canal
Spinal nerves (cauda equina) travels through the vertebral canal
Anterior Sacral Foramina
5 pairs of holes on the anterior surface of the sacrum
- Ventral rami of sacral spinal nerves exit sacral canal
Posterior Sacral Foramina
5 pairs of holes on the posterior surface of the sacrum
- Dorsal rami exit the sacral canal
