Axial Skeleton Flashcards
What is the vertebral formula of the dog/cat?
C7 T13 L7 S3 Cd~20
What is the vertebral formula of the horse?
C7 T18 L6 S5 Cd~20
What is the vertebral formula of the ox?
C7 T13 L6 S5 Cd~20
What is the dorsal atlantoaxial ligament?
Attaches to the cranial part of the spine of the axis and the dorsal arch of the atlas
What is the transverse ligament of the atlas?
Attaches to the internal wall of the vertebral foramen of the atlas on both sides; passes dorsal to the lens; stabilizes dens within the fovea dentis; prevents the dens from projecting dorsally (and potentially into the spinal cord)
What is the apical ligament?
Extends from the apex of the dens to the basioccipital bone between the condyles; holds the dens to the floor of the vertebral canal and is somewhat elastic
What is the alar ligament?
A bilateral ligament that extends laterally from the dens to the basioccipital bone; holds the dens to the floor of the vertebral canal and is somewhat elastic
What is the annulus fibrosus?
The outer circumferential collagenous fibers of the intervertebral discs; thicker ventrally
What is the nucleus pulposus?
The inner gelatinous core of the intervertebral discs
What is the supraspinous ligament?
Fibrous connective tissue that connects the apices of all spinous processes; extends from caudal vertebrae to T1
What is the nuchal ligament?
The cranial continuation of the supraspinous ligament; extends from the spinous processes of T1 to the caudal aspect of the spine of the axis in the dog; in the large animal, it extends to the nuchal crest of the occipital bone and has a funicular part, dorsally, and a laminar part, which extends between the dorsal funicular part and the cervical vertebrae; this structure is NOT present in the cat
When would a large animal present with “poll evil” or “fistulous withers?”
When the synovial bursae that are interposed between the funicular part of the nuchal ligament and certain bony prominences become infected or inflamed.
What is the dorsal longitudinal ligament?
Located on the dorsal surface of vertebral bodies, ventral to the spinal cord; from Cd1-C2
What is the ventral longitudinal ligament?
Located on the ventral surface of vertebral bodies; from sacrum (S1-S3)-C2
What are the short ligaments of the vertebral column?
Interspinous ligaments, intertransverse ligaments, and interarcuate ligaments (elastic sheets between vertebral arches)
