Bones of vertebral column Flashcards
How many vertebrae are there?
33
How is the vertebral column divided into different regions?
7 cervical vertebrae 12 thoracic vertebrae 5 lumbar vertebrae 5 sacral 4 coccygeal
How many discrete vertebrae are there?
24
What do the 9 inferior vertebrae form?
5 sacral vertebrae fuse together to form the sacrum
4 coccygeal vertebrae fuse together to form the coccyx
What are the most mobile regions of the vertebral column?
Cervical
Lumbar
What is a relatively immobile region of the vertebral column? Why?
Thoracic
Because of the articulations with the ribs
How do the most mobile regions of the vertebral column translate clinically?
Neck pain and lower back pain are most common
What happens to the sizes of the vertebrae as you move down the vertebral column? Why?
Become larger
because are bearing more weight
What is the basic structure of a typical vertebrae?
Vertebral body - anterior
Vertebral arch - posterior
Seven processes
What are the seven process in a vertebrae?
Spinous process
Transverse process x2
Superior articular process x2
Inferior articular process x2
What shape is the vertebral body?
Kidney bean shaped
What is the largest part of a vertebrae?
Usually the vertebral body
What is the function of the vertebral body?
Give strength to vertebral column
support weight, usually
What happens to the sizes of the vertebral bodies as you move down the vertebral column? Why?
Become larger
because are bearing more weight
What is the bone composition of the vertebral body?
90% spongey bone
10% compact bone
Where do adjacent vertebrae come into most contact with each other?
The vertebral body
What are the superior and inferior surfaces of the vertebral body covered with?
Discs of hyaline cartilage
What are the discs of hyaline cartilage called?
Vertebral end plates
What is the spinous process?
Projection of bone
in the midline
points posteriorly and somewhat inferiorly
Where does the spinous process arise from?
Junction between two laminae
What are the transverse processes?
Two of them - left and right
projection of bone
point postero-laterally
Where do the transverse processes arise from?
Junction between pedicles and lamina
What are the superior articular processes?
Projection of bone
project superiorly as name suggests
have an articulating surface
What do the superior articular processes articulate with?
The inferior articular processes of the above vertebrae
What are the inferior articular processes?
Projection of bone
project inferiorly as name suggests
have an articualting surface
What do the inferior articular processes articulate with?
The superior articular surfaces of vertebrae below
What are the superior and inferior articulating surfaces lined with?
Cartilage
What is the name of the joint between the superior and inferior articulating surfaces?
Facet joint
What type of joint are facet joints?
Synovial
Planar type
What are the functions of the facet joints?
Lock the vertebrae in place, preventing anterior dislocation
Give a degree of movement
Bear a small amount of weight
Which movements can occur at the facet joints?
Flexion, extension
Rotation
What does the degree of flexion, extension, rotation depend on?
The orientation of the articular surfaces forming the facet joints
What forms the vertebral arch?
Lamina x2 - right and left
Pedicles x2 - right and left
What is a lamina?
Bone in between transverse process and spinous
process
What is a pedicle?
Bone in between transverse process and vertebral body
What is the vertebral foreamen?
Gap created by posterior surface of verteberal body and vertebral arch
What is the vertebral canal?
Empty column created by the succession of vertebral foramina
What lies in the vertebral canal?
The spinal cord
Roots of spinal nerves as they emerge from spinal cord
Vessels that suply them
What are the vertebral notches?
Two of them
Indentations above and below pedicle
in between vertebral body and articular processes
What is the intervertebral foramen?
Gap formed by vertebral notches of adjacent vertebrae
What runs through the intervertebral foramen?
Dorsal root ganglion
Spinal nerve
Vessels that supply them
What are the functions of the vertebral column?
Support
- skull
- thoracic cage
- upper limbs
- pelvis
Protection
- spinal cord
- cauda equina
Movement
-very flexible
Haemopoiesis - occurs in red marrow
