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Clinical Anatomy > Back & Vertebral Column - Osteology > Flashcards

Back & Vertebral Column - Osteology Flashcards

1
Q

how many vertebrae in each of the 5 regions of the vertebral column?

A

cervical - 7
thoracic - 12
lumbar - 5
sacral - 5 fused vertebrae
coccygeal - 4 fused vertebrae

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2
Q

how is the vertebral column involved in protecting the spinal cord & spinal nerves?

A

vertebrae encircle the spinal nerve - create the spinal canal for protection

vertebrae also articulate to form intervertebral foramina - allows spinal nerves to exit and pass through vertebral column protected

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3
Q

what structures does the vertebral column protect?

A

spinal cord
spinal nerves
posterior protection for neck, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis

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4
Q

what role does the vertebral column play in supporting the body?

A

serves as a rigid support structure and allows the trunk to remain upright - supports the head & maintains posture

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5
Q

how does the vertebral column enable movement?

A

small movements at intervertebral joints add up along the vertebral column - overall allows significant movement and flexibility

variations in movements depend on the spinal region

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6
Q

what are the key muscle attachments to the vertebral column?

A

muscles controlling spinal movement
upper and lower limb muscles
some neck muscles - e.g. scalene muscle

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7
Q

what is the importance of the vertebrae and pelvis in haematopoiesis?

A

they are major sites of blood cell production postnatally

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8
Q

list the functions of the vertebral column

A

protection of the spinal cord, spinal nerves & posterior regions

supportive structure - keeps trunk upright and supports the head

allows movement & flexibility - small movements allowed at intervertebral joints overall allow significant movements like flexion, extension & rotation throughout the VC

key site for muscle attachments - e.g. upper and lower limb muscles, scalene muscle of the neck

major site of haematopoiesis

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9
Q

how many curvatures are present in the adult spine?

A

4

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10
Q

main functions of the spinal curvatures?

A
  • distributing mechanical stress during movement
  • providing flexibility
  • adding shock-absorbing resilience
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11
Q

how do the spinal curvatures accommodate activities like carrying heavy loads?

A

spinal curvatures deepen to accommodate carrying heavy loads, and return to their original shape once the load is removed

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12
Q

what are the two types of spinal curvatures, and how do they differ?

A

primary curvatures - retained from the foetal C-shaped curvature and are concave anteriorly

secondary curvatures - develop after birth as a child grows, and are concave posteriorly

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13
Q

which curvatures of the spine are considered primary curvatures?

A

thoracic and sacrococcygeal kyphosis/ curvatures

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14
Q

which curvatures of the spine are considered secondary curvatures?

A

cervical and lumbar lordosis/ curvatures

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15
Q

what is cervical lordosis? when does it develop?

A

cervical lordosis - secondary curvature of the cervical spine

develops as an infant begins sitting up & lifting their head to strengthen support for the head

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16
Q

what is lumbar lordosis? when does it develop?

A

lumbar lordosis - secondary curvature of the cervical spine

develops as a child starts standing and walking - helps support the upper body & balance

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17
Q

function of the vertebral body? how does it change going down the vertebral column?

A

function: bears most of the weight from above & connects intervertebral discs above and below as a support structure

increases in size from the cervical to lumbar region = accommodates increasing load of the body moving down the VC

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18
Q

two components of the vertebral arch?

A

pedicle
lamina

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19
Q

what is the pedicle?

A

component of the vertebral arch - connects the vertebral body to the transverse and articular processes

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20
Q

what are the lamina?

A

flat plates of bone that extend from the transverse processes and join at the midline to form the spinous process

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21
Q

what is the vertebral foramen? function?

A

large central hole formed by the vertebral arch

function: allows the spinal cord to pass through

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22
Q

what do the foramina of all vertebrae form? what is the signficance?

A

vertebral/ spinal canal - where spinal cord passes down

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23
Q

compare the vertebral bodies of cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae

A

cervical: small and oval-shaped with curved end plates

thoracic: heart-shaped and medium-sized with flat endplates

lumbar: large and kidney-shaped with flat end plates

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24
Q

compare the vertebral foramina of cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae

A

cervical: triangular and large

thoracic: round and smaller (spinal cord narrows here)

lumbar: triangular and large

25
Q

why is the cervical vertebral foramina triangular and large?

A

allows for cervical enlargement of the spinal cord to pass through - where UL nerves arise

26
Q

which regional vertebrae have transverse foramen? what function do they serve?

A

cervical vertebrae

function: allow passage for the vertebral arteries and veins that ascend toward the skull

27
Q

what is unique about the spinous & transverse processes of cervical vertebrae?

A

spinous & transverse processes are bifid

transverse processes have anterior & posterior tubercles - serve as attachment points for muscles

28
Q

compare the spinous processes of cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae

A

cervical: bifid from C2-6

thoracic: long and project downwards, overlap with adjacent vertebrae

lumbar: short & square, project almost directly posteriorly

29
Q

compare the orientations of the superior articular facets of cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae

A

cervical: 45 degrees superoposteriorly

thoracic: 60-70 degrees posteriorly

lumbar: 90 degree posteromedially

30
Q

orientation of the superior articular facets of cervical vertebrae?

A

45 degrees superoposteriorly

31
Q

orientation of the superior articular facets of thoracic vertebrae?

A

60-70 degrees posteriorly

32
Q

orientation of the superior articular facets of lumbar vertebrae?

A

90 degrees posteromedially

33
Q

function of the superior articular vertebral facets?

A

articulates with the (inferior facet of the) vertebra above

34
Q

articulations that form the costotransverse joint?

A

transverse costal facet (on transverse processes) of thoracic vertebrae articulates with the tubercle of the rib
- e.g. T5 vertebrae transverse costal facet articulates with tubercle of 5th rib

35
Q

articulations that form the costovertebral joint (superior & inferior)?

A

demifacets (superior & inferior) of thoracic vertebrae articulate with the head of ribs

superior demifacet articulates with the lower part of the head of the rib

inferior demifacet of the vertebrae above articulates with the upper part of the same rib

e.g. rib 6 articulates with inf demifacet of T5 & sup demifacet of T6

36
Q

what thoracic vertebrae have full facets? what does this mean in terms of articulations?

A

T1, 10, 11, 12 have full facets

full facets articulate with the whole head of the first rib - e.g. full facet of T1 articulates with head of 1st rib

37
Q

what is missing from the atlas (C1) that typical vertebrae have? what structures replace these missing parts?

A

vertebral body & spinous process are missing

replaced by an anterior tubercle on the anterior arch (instead of a vertebral body) and a posterior tubercle on the posterior arch (instead of a spinous process)

38
Q

function of the lateral masses on the atlas (C1)?

A

absorb and distribute load from the skull to the axis (C2) vertebra below

39
Q

articulations forming the atlanto-occipital joint?

A

superior articular surfaces of the atlas and the occipital condyles of the occipital bone

40
Q

what movement does the atlanto-occipital joint allow for?

A

flexion and extension of the head - nodding/ yes movements

41
Q

function of the dens (odontoid process) on the axis (C2)?

A

acts as a pivot point for the atlas (C1) and skull to rotate - allows for left and right head movements (no movements)

42
Q

function of the transverse ligament of C1?

A

transverse ligament wraps around the posterior part of the dens - secures it in place, prevents posterior displacement into the vertebral canal which could damage the spinal cord

43
Q

articulations forming the atlantoaxial joint? what movements are allowed here?

A

dens of the axis articulates with the articular facet for dens on atlas

allows for rotational head movements/ no movements

44
Q

what joint allows for yes movements?

A

atlanto-occipital joint (flexion and extension)

45
Q

what joint allows for rotational head (no) movements?

A

atlantoaxial joint

46
Q

how many vertebrae compose the sacrum?

A

5 fused vertebrae (S1-5)

47
Q

what are the transverse ridges of the sacrum?

A

remnants of the fusion process of the vertebral bodies - mark where the individual vertebrae used to join

48
Q

what is the ala of sacrum? its function?

A

lateral broad extension of S1 - key in transferring upper body weight to the pelvic girdle

49
Q

articulations that form the sacroiliac joint? significance of this joint?

A

auricular surface of the sacrum articulates with the pelvic ilium

significant for weight weight transfer from the upper body

50
Q

what components of the sacrum are significant for weight transfer?

A

sacroiliac joint
ala of the sacrum

51
Q

what is the anterior sacral foramina & its function?

A

anterior sacral foramina = 4 openings on the anterior surface of the sacrum

allows for the passage of the anterior rami of spinal nerves - nerve roots of sacral spine descent through sacral canal, emerge through anterior sacral foramina as anterior rami & unite to form the sciatic nerve

52
Q

what is the posterior sacral foramina & its function?

A

posterior sacral foramina = 4 openings on the posterior surface

allows for the exit of the posterior (dorsal) rami of the sacral nerves (smaller than the anterior rami)

53
Q

articulations forming the lumbosacral joint?

A

superior articular facets of the sacrum with inferior articular facets of L5

54
Q

why is the coccyx a rudimentary structure? how is it still functionally important?

A

rudimentary as its an evolutionary remnant of a tail

functionally important as it still serves as an important attachment site for muscles and ligaments

55
Q

how many vertebrae form the coccyx?

A

typically 4 fused coccygeal vertebrae - can vary between 3-5

56
Q

function of the coccygeal horns/ cornua?

A

articulate with the sacral horns above to form a small joint between the sacrum and coccyx

57
Q

the spinal canal ends at the lower end of the sacrum. describe the pathway of the coccygeal nerve?

A

coccygeal nerve passes posterior to the coccyx and then laterally below Co1

58
Q

what runs through the vertebral foramen?

A

spinal cord

Clinical Anatomy (15 decks)

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