Ch 7 pt2 Vertebral Column and Bony Thorax Flashcards
Functions of the vertebral column
provides the axial support of the trunk, provides attachment point for ribs and back muscles, protects spinal cord.
how many bones in fetal axial column
33
how many bones in an adult vertebral column
26
how many bones in the cervical region
7
where is the spinal cord the longest
where it comes out of the brain
function of the transverse foramina
protects the vertebral arteries and veins that serve the brain
which section of vertebrae is more flexible
cervical
how are vertebrae identified
by number and letter C1, C2…
what allows the head to “nod yes”
the articulation between C1 and the occipital condyles
what is another name for C2 and what does it do
the axis, its articulation with C1 allows the head to rotate
which vertebrae have a bifid spinous process
C2-C6
vertebrae found in chest region
Thoracic Vertebrae
how many thoracic vertebrae are ther
12
what does each thoracic vertebrae articulate with
Ribs
what shape is the thoracic vertebrae’s body
heart shaped
vertebra in the “small of the back”
Lumbar vertebrae
q
what is the shape of the vertebral foramina of the lumbar vertebrae
triangular
how many lumbar vertebrae are there
5
which vertebrae bears the most weight
lumbar
shape of the spinous process of the lumbar
short, flat, hatchet shaped
T/F lumbar vertebrae are locked together
T
provides stability and prevents rotation
intervertabral discs
shock absorber found between each vertebrae
how many sacrum vertebrae are there
5
fused
function of the sacrum
strengthens and stabilizes the pelvis
where is the body’s center of gravity found
the region of the first sacral vertebrae
how many coccyx vertebrae are there
3-5
fuse together over time
transverse foramen
foramen found in the cervical vertebrae that allows for arteries to pass through
vertebral foramen
foramen in the vertebra where the spinal cord runs through
cervical prominence
large, unforked bifid spinous process found in C7
spinous process
part that sticks out to the bakc
transverse process
part that sticks out to the sides
body
main, solid part of the vertebrae found towards the front of the body
C1 nickname
Atlas (because he holds “the world’ (head))
what feature is C1 missing
body
what unique structure does C2 have
the dens (odontoid process)
what unique structure does C2 have
the dens (odontoid process)
function of the dens
articulates with C1, to shake head back and forth
how many thoracic vertebrae are ther
12
what is the exception for wher intevertebral discs are found
C1, C2, sacrum and the coccxk vertebrae
what is the exception for wher intevertebral discs are found
C1, C2, sacrum and the coccxk vertebrae
what does the saccrum articulate with
hips (illium)
vesigial structures
structures that were obvious in ancestors, but have lost size and/or functionallity
which section of the spine is a vestigial structure
coccx vertebrae
True ribs
the first 7 pairs of ribs with both vertebral and sternal articulations
false ribs
5 pairs of ribs that attach to the sternum indirectly or do not attach to the sternum at all
floating ribs
bottom two pairs of ribs that don’t articulate with the sternum at all
they count as false ribs
head (ribs)
plane (gliding) joint
synovial joint between the spinal vertebrae, that allow for back and forth and side to side motion
flexion
bending forward
extension
bending backwards
decreases the angle between two bones
flexion
increases the angle between two bones
extension
lateral flexion
bending from side to side
type of connective tissue that holds the vertebral column upright
Vertebral Ligaments (dense elastic connective tissue)
function of vertebral ligaments
prevent hyper extension of spine
functions of intervertebral discs
- shock absorption
- allow spine to flex and extened
where are intervertebral discs largest
lumbar region
disc slipped/ herniated discs/ ruptured discs
when cracks develop in the outer layer intervertebral discs, and the inner gel oozes out and presses on a nerve
where are disk problems most common
between C5 and C6, L4 and L5, L5 and S1
how are slipped discs treated
bed rest, traction, pain killers, or surgical removal
what causes slipped discs
sudden or sever trauma to the spine
how much of the spinal column do intervertebral discs make up
1/4
why do people shorten with age
compression of disks overtime
