Bones - The Spine, Sternum, and Ribs Flashcards
What are the 5 Regions of the Vertebral Column?
- Cervical
- Thoracic
- Lumbar
- Sacral
- Coccygeal
How many vertebrae are in the Cervical region? Is it secondary or primary curvature?
# of Vertebrae - 7 Vertebrae: CI - CVII Curvature - Secondary - At birth: Convex Posteriorly - After birth: Convex Anteriorly
How many Vertebrae are in the Thoracic region? Does it have secondary or primary curvature?
# of Vertebrae - 12 Vertebrae: TI - TXII Curvature - Primary - At birth: Convex Posteriorly - After birth: Convex Posteriorly
How many Vertebrae are in the Lumbar region? Is the curvature Primary or Secondary?
# of Vertebrae - 5 Vertebrae: LI-LV Curvature - Secondary - After birth: Convex Anteriorly
How many Vertebrae does the Sacral region have? Is its curvature Primary or Secondary?
# of Vertebrae - 5 (fused): SI - SV Curvature - Primary - At birth: convex posteriorly - After birth: convex posteriorly
What are the General Features of Vertebra? (5)
- Vertebral Body
- Vertebral Arch
- Laminae
- Transverse Processes
- Articular Processes
Describe the Location, Characteristics, and Function of the Vertebral Body.
Location - Anterior Aspect Characteristics - Larger in lower segments - Thickest part of Vertebra - Solid and circular Function - Provides stability in the Vertebral column
Describe the Location, Characteristics, and Makeup of the Vertebral Arch?
Location
- On the Posterior Part
- Extending from Vertebral Body posteriorly
Characteristics
- Pedicle and Lamina complete the arch to form the Vertebral Foreman
Make Up (2 parts)
- Pedicle extends from the vertebral body posteriorly
- Lamina extends from the pedicle medially and posteriorly
Describe the Bony Features of the Pedicle
- The superior and inferior surface is notched
- They are called the superior and inferior notches.
- Notches on adjacent vertebra form the Intervertebral Foramen
What is the Intervertebral Foramen?
- Formed by inferior and superior vertebral notches on adjacent pedicles of vertebrae
- Passage way for spinal nerves
Describe the Laminae
- Bony Ridge
- Projects posteromedially from the pedicles
- Joins together at the midline
- Combined with pedicle, forms the Vertebral Foramen
Describe the Transverse Process on a typical Vertebrae
- Extends laterally from the junction of the pedicles and laminae
- Has Unique features based on what region of Vertebrae
- Typical Vertebrae has 2 transverse process
Describe the Articular Process on a Typical Vertebrae
- Two Processes on each side
- Arise Superiorly and Inferiorly from the junction of laminae and pedicles
- Adjacent vertebrae articulate with each other on the Articular process
- Can have unique features based on specific Vertebrae
Describe a Spinous Process on typical vertebrae
- Extends posteriorly from the convergence of Laminae
- Varies greatly based on specific vertebrae and regions of vertebrae
What Cervical Vertebrae are Typical (4) and what are the typical characteristics of Cervical Vertebrae (2)?
Typical Cervical Vertebrae - CIII-CVI Unique Characteristics - Bifurcated Spinous Process - Transverse processes forms a foramen (transverse foramen)
What are the Atypical Cervical Vertebrae (3)?
Atypical Cervical Vertebrae
- CI; CII; CVII
What is the Name and Unique Characteristics (6) of the CI Vertebra?
Name
- Atlas
Unique Characteristics
- No body
- Two lateral masses connected by anterior and posterior arches
- Still has transverse foramina
- Superior surface of lateral mass articulates with occipital condyles
- Inferior surface articulates with CII
- Anterior arch articulates with the odontoid process (dens) of CII
What is the Name of the CII Vertebra? What Unique Features does it have?
Name
- Axis
Features
- Acts as a pivot for rotation of the head.
- Still has a bifid spinous process and transverse foramen
- Vertical projection extends from the superior surface of the body, called the odontoid process or dens axis.
- Dens articulates with the anterior arch of the Atlas (CI)
- Two large articular processes (superior articular facet) exist lateral to dens, which articulate with lateral masses of Atlas (CI)
What are the Unique Features of the CVII vertebra?
- The longest spinous process of cervical vertebrae
- Spinous process is not bifurcated
Which Thoracic Vertebrae are Typical (8) and what are the characteristics of a typical Thoracic Vertebrae?
Typical Vertebrae
- TII-TIX
Characteristics
- Typified by Coastal Facets on sides of bodies and transverse processes
- Have a long and slender spinous process that points inferiorly
What are the Atypical Thoracic Vertebrae (3)? Why are they considered Atypical?
Atypical Thoracic Vertebrae
- TI; TX-TXII
Why Atypical?
- They lack some of the typical features of thoracic vertebrae. Ie. long spinous process or coastal facets on sides of bodies and/or transverse processes
What Features are Unique to Lumbar Vertebrae? (2)
- Large body
- Short and thick spinous process
What are the Unique Features on the Anterior side of the Sacrum? (5)
- Transverse Ridges (line of fusion between Sacral Vertebrae)
- Quite Smooth
- Openings are Intervertebral Foramena, sacral spinal nerves go through them.
- Concave
- Promontory of Sacrum: Prominent, projects into the cavity, important in a clinic for determining whether a pregnant woman gives natural birth or through C-Section
What are the Unique Features of the Posterior side of the Sacrum? (4)
- Quite rough, lots of bony ridges
- Prominent ridge in the middle
- Convex
- Sacral Crests: remnants of the sacral vertebral processes
What Unique Feature is present on the lateral side of the Sacrum? (1)
- Auricular Surface: smooth surface, resembles the ear. Articulates with the surface on the hip bone to form SarcoIliac Joint.
What are the General Features of the shape of the Sacrum? (4)
- The Base: faces superiorly and articulates with LV vertebra
- Apex: inferior narrowing that articulates with the coccyx
- Posterior/Anterior Sacral Foramina: 4 pairs of foramina on each side
- Sacral Ala: Triangular Surfaces lateral to the promontory
What Unique Features of the Sacrum are Internal? (2)
- Sacral Canal: Continuation of the vertebral canal in the sacrum
- Sacral Hiatus: opening on the inferior side of SV
What Components make up the Sternum? (3)
- Manubrium
- Body
- Xiphoid Process
Where is the Manubrium located? What are the Bony Features? (3)
Location
- Located on the superior end of the Sternum
Features
- Jugular Notch: on the superior surface (palpable)
- Clavicular notch: lateral to the jugular notch, location of articulation with clavicle
- Lateral Margin: Location of articulation with the first costal cartilage
Where is the Body of the Sternum located? What Bony features does it have? (2)
Location
- Located in the middle of the sternum, inferior to the Xiphoid Process and Inferior to the Manubrium
Features
- Sternal Angle: Superior Anterior surface. location of articulation with manubrium and second costal cartilage. same level as Intervertebral disk between TIV - TV
- Lateral Sides: Location of articulation for costal cartilages of ribs II-VII
Where is the Body of the Sternum located? What Bony features does it have? (2)
Location
- Located in the middle of the sternum, inferior to the Xiphoid Process and Inferior to the Manubrium
Features
- Sternal Angle: Superior Anterior surface. location of articulation with manubrium and second costal cartilage. same level as Intervertebral disk between TIV - TV
- Lateral Sides: Location of articulation for costal cartilages of ribs II-VII
Where is the Xiphoid Process located? What are the bony Features?
Location - Inferior portion of the Sternum Features - Shape: Round Inferior border - Xiphisternal Joint: articulation point with the body of the sternum. Site of articulation for 7th costal cartilage
How many pairs of Ribs are there? What is their shape?
of Ribs
- 12 pairs
Shape of Ribs
- Flat and Curvy
What is the difference between True Ribs, False Ribs, and Free Ribs? Which pairs fall into which category?
True Rib - Articulate anteriorly with sternum via costal cartilages
- I-VII (1st to 7th)
False Ribs - Do not directly articulate with sternum via costal cartilages
- VIII-XII (8th to 12th)
- VIII-X - articulate with sternum via the seventh costal cartilage
Free Ribs - Do not articulate with the sternum at all
- XI-XII
What are the Typical Ribs (7) and what are their Characteristics (5)?
Typical Ribs
- III-IX
Characteristics
- Head: Posterior Part. Articulates with costal facets on the body of thoracic vertebra at the same level and vertebra above
- Neck: Part between head and costal tubercle
- Costal Tubercle: Articulates with Transverse Process with the corresponding vertebra
- Body: Curves with the greatest angle at the costal angle
- Costal Groove: Inferior part of Interior surface, location of intercostal nerves and vessels
What are the Atypical Ribs (5)?
- I; II; & X-XII (lack some features of typical ribs)
What is the Thoracic Cage?
- A cone-shaped structure that protects vital organs
What are the Features of the Thoracic Cage? (4)
- Apex (superior part): Root of the neck. Bound by TI (posteriorly), Rib I (laterally), & Superior surface of Manubrium (anteriorly)
- Superior Thoracic Aperture: Opening created by the Apex
- The Base: Bound by TXII vertebra (posteriorly), XI & XII ribs (posterolaterally), costal margin (anterolaterally), & Xiphoid Process (anteriorly)
- Inferior Thoracic Aperture: Opening created by The Base and is sealed by the Diaphragm
