Back-Vertebral Column Flashcards
What makes up the vertebral column?
Vertebrae and Intervertebral discs
What are the functions of the vertebral column?
- Protect spinal cord and nerves
- Supports weight of the body
- Provides semi rigid and flexible axis for the body and pivot for the head
- Critical for posture and movement
How many vertebrae are in the vertebral column?
33
Out of the 33 vertebrae that we have, how many are capable of movement?
24
Where are the larger vertebrae and why?
The larger vertebrae are in the lower area because they must support increasing amounts of weight.
What is a primary curviture?
It is a curiviture that developed during the fetal period and concaves anteriorly.
Thoracic and sacral
What is a secondary curvature?
A secondary curviture develops during infancy and concaves posteriorly.
Cervical and lumbar
What is the vertebral body?
The body is the more massive, roughly cylindrical, anterior part of the bone that gives strength to the column and supports weight
What type of bone does the vertebral body mostly consist of?
The vertebral body mostly consist of trabecular bone (spongy bone).
What is the vertebral arch?
The vertebral arch is posterior to the vertebral body and consists of two (right and left) pedicles and laminae
What are vertebral pedicles?
Vertebral pedicles are short, stout cylindrical processes that project posteriorly from the vertebral body to meet two broad, flat plates of bone, called laminae, which unite in the midline.
What are the vertebral laminae?
The vertebral laminae are two broad, flat plates of bone, which unite in the midline.
What is the vertebral foramen?
The vertebral foramen is the big hole in the middle that the spinal cord goes through.
What is the vertebral spinous process?
The vertebral spinous process projects posteriorly from the vertebral body at the junction of the laminae
What is the transverse process of the vertebrae?
The transverese process of the vertebrae are two projections that happen postlaterally from junctions of laminae and pedicle
What are the articular processes of the vertebrae?
There are 4 total and they happen kind of posteriorly 2 are superior and 2 are posterior
What is the notochord?
The notochord is flexible and rod-shaped, and it is found in embryos. It is dervived from mesoderm. Mesoderm condenses and surrounds it. This later chondrify and cartilage forms. The notochord eventually becomes the vertebral column.
