back and vertebral column Flashcards
what are the functions of the vertebral column?
weight bearing
protection
permits movement
sites for muscle attachment
what is in between the vertebrae?
fibrocartilaginous Intervertebral discs
what is a vertebra composed of?
the vertebral body
the neural arch, containing the pedicles and the lamina
the transverse and spinous processes
what regions of the vertebral column are there?
cervical thoracic lumbar sacral coccygeal
how many vertebrae are in each region of the vertebral column?
cervical - 7 thoracic - 12 lumbar - 5 sacral - 5 coccygeal - 3-5
what do thoracic vertebrae have that separates them from the other types?
facets for the ribs
what ligaments are there in the vertebral column?
anterior longitudinal posterior longitudinal ligamentum flavum interspinous supraspinous
what is the function of the anterior longitudinal ligament?
joins the bodies on the anterior surface
what is the function of the posterior longitudinal ligament?
joins the posterior surfaces of the bodies
where is the ligamentum flavum?
anterior surface of laminae
what do the interspinous and supraspinous ligament do?
connect the spines
where is the nuchal ligament?
in the cervical region - thickened
what are the regions of the IV discs?
notochord
annulus fibrosus
nucleus pulposus
what are the functions of IV discs?
shock absorbers
what is a herniated disc?
when the nucleus pulposus slips through the outer portion of the IV disc and compresses the nerve root
what is kyphosis?
excessive outward curvature of the spine, causing hunching of the back.
what is lordosis?
excessive inward curvature of the spine.
what is scoliosis?
abnormal lateral curvature of the spine
is the vertebral column part of the axial or appendicular skeleton
axial
what muscles are attached to the vertebral column?
erector spinae
where does the spinal cord lie?
in the vertebral canal
what nerves form the cauda equina?
lumbar and sacral nerves
what is the conus medullaris and at what vertebral level does it end in adults and children?
the end of the spinal cord
ends at L1 in adults and L3 in children
what are the 3 meninges of the spinal cord, from outside to inside?
dura mater
arachnoid mater
pia mater
what is between the arachnoid and pia mater?
subarachnoid space (filled with CSF)
where do the dura and arachnoid mater extend to?
S3 (dural sac)
where does the pia mater extend to?
extends to the front of the coccyx as a single strand (filum terminale)
what is a foramen?
any opening
where is the most prominent cervical process?
C7
what are the arteries that supply the spinal cord?
anterior and posterior spinal arteries, and the segmental arteries in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions
what does the lateral horn contain?
contains the cell bodies of sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons
where in the spinal cord is the lateral horn present?
between levels T1-S2 and between S2-S4
what vertebrae is the cauda equina level with?
T12-L1
where do sympathetic fibres emerge from?
the ventral route, via a white rami communicans
how do sympathetic fibres re-enter the spinal nerve?
via a grey rami communicans after they have synapsed in the sympathetic chain
what is the sympathetic chain?
distribution mechanism for the sympathetic supply from between T1-L2 to all parts of the body - a paired set of segmental paravertebral connected sympathetic ganglia stretching from C1 veterbra to the end of the coccyx
what are the 3 paths that sympathetic fibres can take after they enter the white rc?
they can synapse at the level of entry
they can run up or down the chain and synapse at a ganglion at a higher or lower level than their level of origin
they can pass straight through the chain and synapse elsewhere
what are the only sympathetic fibres that pass through the sympathetic chain to synapse elsewhere?
fibres that supply the abdominal viscera
what are the two ways that sympathetic fibres pass on to the viscera?
can go on as either postganglionic (if they have synapsed in the sympathetic chain) or preganglionic fibres until they reach the organs concerned
what is a splanchnic nerve?
sympathetic nerves which do not re enter the spinal nerve and supply only thoracic or abdominopelvic viscera
what is the difference between the thoracic and abdominal splachnic nerves?
thoracic splanchnic nerves synapse in the sympathetic chain and then run to the organ concerned abdominal splanchnic nerves do not synapse in the chain (pass straight through and synapse in prevertebral ganglia)
where do the general sensory fibres of the sympathetic nervous system run?
with the parasympathetic fibres
where do the parasympathetic nerve fibres arise from?
S2-S4 spinal nerves and from the 3rd,7th,9th and 10th cranial nerves
what are the main arteries of the trunk?
ascending aorta
descending aorta
abdominal aorta
what are the main arteries of the upper limb?
subclavian artery
axillary artery
brachial artery
radial and ulnar arteries
where does the brachial artery bifurcate?
cubital fossa
what does the common iliac artery bifurcate into?
internal and external iliacs
what does the external iliac artery become?
superficial femoral
what does the femoral artery become and where?
popliteal artery in the popliteal fossa
what does the popliteal artery become?
anterior and posterior tibial artery
what are the tributaries of the SVC?
left and right brachiocephalic veins
what are the tributaries of the IVC?
left and right common iliac veins
what is the cauda equina?
a bundle of spinal nerves and spinal nerve roots, consisting of the second through fifth lumbar nerve pairs, the first through fifth sacral nerve pairs, and the coccygeal nerve
