Back and Vertebral Column Flashcards
How many individual bones are in the vertebral column?
33
Size of vertebrae increases from ______ to ______.
Superior
Inferior
What are found between each vertebrae?
Intervertebral discs
What are the 4 functions of the vertebral column?
Weight bearing
Protection
Movement
Site of muscle attachment.
What do the neck vertebrae protect?
Vertebral artery
Where does the vertebral column carrie and transmit weight from?
Upper body down to lower limbs.
What 2 features provide shock absorption?
Curvatures and intervertebral discs.
What shape does a normal healthy spine have?
Double S
When are the thoracic and sacral kyphosis present?
In the fetus
When are the cervical and lumbar lordoses developed?
During infancy
What type of abnormal curvature would be seen in osteoporosis?
Excessive thoracic kyphosis.
What type of abnormal curvature would be seen in pregnancy?
Excessive lumbar lordosis.
Which curvature is inward and which is outward?
Inward is lordosis
Outward is kyphosis
What abnormal curvature can occur in adolescents?
Scoliosis
What is the main body called?
Vertebral body
What is the name of the part sticking out at the sides of the vertebrae?
Transverse process
What attaches the superior/inferior process to the vertebral body?
Pedicle
What attaches the spinous process to the superior/inferior transverse processes?
Lamina
What are the 5 types of vertebrae?
Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Coccygeal
What are the differences between vertebrae?
Increase vertebrae body size
Spinous process shape
Orientation of facetsWha
What is the spinous process like in thoracic vertebrae?
Long thin downwards
What do cervical vertebrae have that other vertebrae don’t?
Holes for vertebral artery to go through.
What are the 2 components of intervertebral discs?
Annulus fibrosus (layers of fibrocartilage) Nucleus pulposus (Central core with high water content)
What is the role of fibrocartilage?
Mechanical strength
What is a herniated disc?
Compression of a nerve
How do slipped discs occur?
Annulus fibrosus layer damaged and some nucleus pulposus squeezes out.
What 3 things need protected by the vertebral column?
Spinal cord
Spinal nerves
Arteries and veins
What are the 3 coverings of the spinal cord (meninges)?
Dura mater (thick and tough) Arachnoid mater (thin) Pia mater (thin)
What goes between the layers of meninges?
CSF
What are the movements which can occur at the vertebral column?
Extension/flexion
Lateral flexion/extension
Rotation of head, neck and upper trunk
What joint is in the intervertebral discs?
Secondary cartilaginous
What joint is in the facets?
Synovial plane
What joint is with the ribs?
Synovial plane
What joints are made with the skull and the atlas?
Synovial ellipsoid
What joints are made with the atlas and axis?
Synovial pivot
What is the function of anterior longitudinal?
Prevents hyperextension.
What is the function of posterior longitudinal?
Prevents hyperflexion
Where is the interspinous found?
In between spinous processes
Where is the supraspinous found?
On top of spinous processes.
What is the ligamentum flavum function?
To connect lamina of different vertebrae.
Where can muscles of the spine attach?
Head Upper limb Thorax Abdomen Hips Lower limbs
Where do intrinsic back muscles act?
On the back alone.
What movements do intrinsic back muscles do?
Extension
Controlled flexion and lateral flexion
What 4 structures are closely related to the spine?
Muscles
Nerves (Sympathetic trunk)
Arteries and veins
Lymphatic system
What can reduce shock absorption during to aging?
Dehydration of intervertebral discs
What is osteoarthritis?
Pain and stiffness of joints
What is osteoporosis?
Compression fractures altering curvature of the spine.
What can occur due to weakness of back muscles?
Imbalanced loading of the spine
