Back Osteology Flashcards
How many cervical vertebrae are there?
7
How many thoracic vertebrae are there?
12
How many lumbar vertebrae are there?
5
How many sacrum vertebrae are there?
5 that are fused
How many coccyx vertebrae are there?
3-5 fused
What curvatures have kyphosis of the spine?
thoracic, sacral
What curvatures have lordosis of the spine?
cervical, lumbar
what is scoliosis?
lateral curvature of the spine
primary curvature of the spine?
thoracic, sacral
What is a burst fracture?
Life threatening due to injury to spinal cord (any fracture above C4 will likely result in loss of signal to lungs)
If the transverse L is ruptured, the odontoid process may injure the spinal cord
Most likely occur due to trauma to the posterior portion of the neck or a blow to the top of the head
Divers in shallow water hitting their head, football player tackling someone with their head down, STRONG rotations etc.
Fracture of one or both arches of the atlas (c1)
what is a Hangman’s Fracture?
Fracture to C2 (Axis) vertebra
- vertebral arch fracture
- Most likely due to hyperextension of the neck, with distraction (pulling away from the rest of the c-spine), not whiplash
-Possibly from falls in elderly adults, motor vehicle accidents like when a chin strikes the wheel causing neck to hyperextend.
what is spina bifida occulta?
birth defect where there is an incomplete closing of the spine and the membranes around the spinal cord.
SBO is the mildest form, with some hair growth or a dimple or a birthmark at site of lesion
vertebral lamina fail to fuse and close off vertebral canal
Occurs at L5 and S1, often undetected
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?
spinal canal narrows and compresses the nerves at the level of the lumbar vertebrae, due to common occurrence of spinal degeneration that comes with aging.
Coccyx Fracture?
Tailbone fracture
what happens if odontoid fracture fractures?
breaks at its base it will not likely heal because transverse L is holding it away from its blood supply.
A more inferior break will most likely heal.
what is the body of the vertebra?
short cylinder which supports all the weight, bound together by intervertebral joints, which form cartilaginous joints
what are costal facets?
(processes on thoracic vertebrae): articulate with ribs below
what is the vertebral arch?
- paired pedicles laterally and laminae posteriorally
- forms VERTEBRAL FORAMEN with body
- Protects spinal cord and structures
- anterior portion of the vertebrae
- Composed of cancellous bone and encircled by a protective layer of compact bone
what is the vertebral lamina?
“plate” or “layer” that encloses the spinal cord
what is the spinous process?
- bony projection off the posterior of each vertebra laminae