Ch. 6 Vertebral Column Flashcards
Vertebral column location
posterior portion of the trunk
Functions of the vertebral column
Posture
Support of weight
Protection for spinal cord and spinal nerves
Partial protection for thoracic and abdominal organs
Three types of bones in vertebral column
- Moveable presacral vertebrae
- Sacrum
- Coccyx
of Cervical Vertebrae
7
of Thoracic vertebrae
12
of Lumbar vertebrae
5
of fused sacral vertebrae
5
of fused coccyx vertebrae
4
Total # of vertebrae before fusion
33
Fetal Curvature
In fetus, the vertebral column exhibits one curvature which is CONCAVE ANTERIORLY (also convex posteriorly). This is PRIMARY CURVATURE.
Why was fetal curvature primary?
Result of differences in height between the anterior and posterior aspects of vertebral bodies.
How many curvatures in the adult vertebral column?
4 (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral)
Which curves retained primary curvature?
Thoracic and Sacral
Which curves are secondary?
Cervical and Lumbar
Secondary Curvature
Concave posteriorly due to difference in the heights between the anterior and posterior aspects of intervertebral discs
Large round mass of vertebra: it forms the anterior aspect of the vertebra
Vertebral Body
Posterior to the body, bone formed by two pedicles and two laminae
Vertebral arch
A bridge of bone extending from the posterior aspect of the body.
Pedicle
A flat plate extending from the pedicle; fuse with each other in the median plane
Lamina
Hole in the center of the vertebrae that houses the spinal cord
Vertebral foramen
Boundaries of the vertebral foramen
Anterior: body
Posterior: laminae
Lateral: pedicles
Formed by the individual vertebral foramina when the 24 presacral vertebrae are articulated
Vertebral canal