Chapter 6

Question 1

How many bones make up the vertebral column before fusion?

Answer 1

33 bones

Question 2

Where are the costotransverse joint and costovertebral joint located and what does it articulate?

Answer 2

Location: thoracic spine
Costotransverse joint: tubercle of the rib articulates w the transverse process of the vertebra
Costovertebral joint: head of the rib articulates w the body of the vertebra

Question 3

Which type of vertebrae possess the costotransverse and costovertebral joints?

Answer 3

Thoracic vertebrae

Question 4

Name all the facets found on vertebrae and what articulates with each one

Answer 4

Cervical vertebrae: superior articular facet of axis: articulates w inferior articular facet of atlas
Thoracic vertebrae: Demi facets: articulate w heads of two different ribs; transverse costal facets: articulate w the ribs
Lumbar vertebrae: no costal facets

Question 5

Name all the foramen on vertebrae and what structure(s) course through them

Answer 5

Cervical vertebrae
* transverse foramen: vertebral artery CV6-CV1
Thoracic vertebrae
* no foramina
lumbar vertebrae
* no foramina

Question 6

What forms the vertebral arch?

Answer 6

two pedicles and two laminae

Question 7

Describe where the transverse processes and spinous processes can be found on a typical vertebra

Answer 7

transverse processes: found laterally at the junction of a lamina and a pedicle
spinous processes: found posteriorly from each vertebral arch at the junction of the two laminae

Question 8

Where can bifid spinous processes be found?

Answer 8

on cervical vertebrae CV2-CV6

Question 9

Where can anterior and posterior tubercles be found? On what vertebra?

Answer 9

• bifid transverse processes
• cervical vertebrae

Question 10

What structures help create the intervertebral foramen?

Answer 10

vertebral notches

Question 11

What is the relation between vertebrae and supporting body weight and changes in size?

Answer 11

• vertebrae increase in size going superior to inferior
• vertebrae inferior to lumbosacral region (pelvis & lower limbs) don’t support body weight

Question 12

What structures should one look for to identify: Cervical vertebra

Answer 12

• transverse foramen
• bifid spinous process
• bifid transverse processes
• anterior & posterior tubercles

Question 13

What structures should one look for to identify: Thoracic vertebra

Answer 13

• transverse costal facets
• no foramina

Question 14

What structures should one look for to identify:
Lumbar vertebra

Answer 14

• no foramina
• no facets
• largest in size

Question 15

Which vertebra has the most prominent spinous process?

Answer 15

CV7 vertebra prominens

Question 16

What are the functions of the vertebral column?

Answer 16

• posture
• support of weight
• protection for the spinal cord and spinal nerves
• partial protection for thoracic and abdominal organs

Question 17

Which parts of the vertebral column have a primary curvature, and which have a secondary curvature?

Answer 17

primary curvature: thoracic & sacral
secondary curvature: cervical & lumbar

Question 18

What does having a primary curvature or secondary curvature mean?

Answer 18

primary curvature: present during fetal life and remain the same in the adult
secondary curvature: developed after birth

Question 19

What differences in height do the primary and secondary curvatures create?

Answer 19

• primary curvature: differences in height between the anterior and posterior aspects of the vertebral bodies
• secondary curvature: differences in height between the anterior and posterior aspects of the intervertebral discs

Question 20

What curvature does a fetus have in their vertebral column?

Answer 20

primary curvature

Question 21

What area of the sacrum displays remnants of vertebrae?

Answer 21

median sacral crest

Question 22

What area of the sacrum has nervous structures exiting from it?

Answer 22

• pelvic sacral foramina: ventral rami of S1 to S4 exit from here
• dorsal sacral foramina:dorsal rami of S1 to S4 exit from here

Question 23

Where is the sacral hiatus found and what structure is missing in order to have this space present?

Answer 23

• found at the distal part of the sacrum
• laminae on the fifth sacral segment is missing

Question 24

What is the ala? Does it articulate with anything?

Answer 24

• wing of the sacrum: the upper part of the lateral part of the sacrum
• articulates with the ilium of the hip bone