General Organization of a Vertebra Flashcards
What are the three basic osseous parts of a vertebra?
the vertebral body, vertebral arch, and the apophyseal regions
What is formed by the vertebral body and vertebral arch?
the vertebral foramen
What is the general shape of the vertebral body at each region of the spine?
cervical - rectangular; thoracic - triangular; lumbar - reniform
What is the name given to the compact bone at the superior and inferior surfaces of the vertebral body?
superior epiphyseal rim, inferior epiphyseal rim
What is the central region at the superior and inferior surfaces of the vertebral body called?
cancellous or spongy bone
What is the name given to the cartilage found at the superior and inferior surface of a developing vertebral body?
superior epiphyseal plate, inferior epiphyseal plate
What are the names of the openings found around the margins of the vertebral body?
nutrient foramina or vascular foramina
What large opening is usually observed at the back of the vertebral body?
the basivertebral venous foramen
What is the name of the vessel entering the nutrient or vascular foramen?
osseous artery
What is the name given to the large vessel exiting the back of the vertebral body?
the basivertebral vein
What is the semicircular region of bone attached to the back of the vertebral body called?
the vertebral arch
What is the name given to the anterior part of the vertebral arch?
the pedicle
What is the name given to the posterior part of the vertebral arch?
the lamina
What is the name given to the intermediate part of the vertebral arch where the transverse process and articular processes attach?
the lamina-pedicle junction
What is the name given to the feature located at the upper and lower surfaces of the pedicle?
the superior vertebral notch/incisure; the inferior vertebral notch/incisure
What is the generic orientation of the pedicle at each region of the spine?
cervical - posterolateral; thoracic - posterior, slight lateral; lumbar - posterior
All lamina are oriented in what direction?
posterior and median
What ligament will attach to the lamina?
the ligamentum flavum
What is the name given to abnormal bone at the attachment site of the ligamentum flavum?
para-articular process
What classification of bone will para-articular processes represent?
accessory bone
What is the name given to the overlap of laminae seen on X-ray?
shingling
What is the name given to the lamina - pedicle junction at each region of the spine?
cervical - articular pillar; thoracic and lumbar - pars interarticularis
What is the name given to the junction of the vertebral arch - spinous process on lateral X-ray?
the spinolaminar junction
What is the name given to the tubular bone growth regions of the vertebral arch?
the apophyseal regions
What names may be given to each apophysis of the spine?
the transverse apophysis or transverse process; articular apophysis or articular process; spinous apophysis or spinous process
What is the generic orientation of the transverse process or transverse apophysis at each region of the spine?
cervical - anterolateral; thoracic - posterolateral; lumbar - lateral
All non-rib-bearing vertebra of the spine retain what equivalent feature?
the costal element
What is the name given to the rounded elevation at the end of the transverse apophysis or transverse process?
the transverse tubercle
What will cause the transverse process/transverse apophysis to alter its initial direction in the cervical region?
cervical spinal nerves are pulled forward to form the cervical and brachial nerve plexuses thus remodeling the transverse process to accommodate their new position
What will cause the transverse process/apophysis to alter its initial direction in the thoracic region?
the growth of the lungs remodel the shape of the ribs which in turn push the transverse processes backward
What will the articular process/apophysis support?
the articular facet
What is the name given to the joint formed between articular facets of a vertebral couple?
the zygapophysis
What is the name given to the bone surface at the front of a zygapophysis?
the superior articular facet
What is the name given to the bone surface at the back of a zygapophysis?
the inferior articular facet
What names are given to the part of the vertebra which supports the front of the zygapophysis?
the superior articular apophysis, the superior articular apophysis, or the pre-zygapophysis
What names are given to the part of the vertebra which supports the back of the zygapophysis?
the inferior articular apophysis, the inferior articular process, or the post-zygapophysis
In the vertebral couple, the part of the vertebra which lies anterior to the zygapophysis is called the what?
pre-zygapophysis
In the vertebral couple, the part of the vertebra which lies posterior to the zygapophysis is called the what?
post-zygapophysis
What will form the posterior boundary of a typical intervertebral foramen?
the inferior articular process/post-zygapophysis, the superior articular process/pre-zygapophysis, the capsular ligament, and the ligamentum flavum
What will form the superior boundary of a typical intervertebral foramen?
the inferior vertebral notch/incisure
What will form the inferior boundary of a typical intervertebral foramen?
the superior vertebral notch/incisure
What will form the anterior boundary of a typical intervertebral foramen?
the vertebral body of the segment above, the vertebral body of the segment below, the intervertebral disc, and the posterior longitudinal ligament
What is the method of calculating the angle of the spinous process/apophysis?
calculate the angle formed between the undersurface of the spinous process/apophysis and the horizontal plane
What is the name given to the normal overlap of spinous processes or spinous apophyses as seen on X-ray?
imbrication
What is the name given to the rounded elevation at the tip of the spinous process/apophysis?
the spinous tubercle
What is the orientation of the spinous process/apophysis at each region of the spine?
cervical - slight angle inferiorly; thoracic - noticeable angle inferiorly; lumbar - no inferior angle
