Jts./Ligg. of Vertebral Column

Question 0

Annulus Fibrosus

Answer 0

Outer shell of collagenous fibers of intervertebral discs.

Thinnest dorsally.

Question 1

Intervertebral Discs

Answer 1

separate adjacent vertebrae.

Composed of: outer shell of collagenous fibers & inner, semiliquie, nucleus pulposus

Question 2

Nucleus Pulposus

Answer 2

• Inner, semiliquid portion of intervertebral discs.

- Can become calcified in older dogs (esp. ‘long-backed’ breeds) & lose some shock-absorbing ability.

Question 3

Supraspinous Ligament

Answer 3

• band of connective tissue that lies dorsal to the spinous process of thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and 1st 3 caudal vertebrae.
• Continues cranially to spinous process of 2nd cervical vertebra by nuchal lig.

Question 4

Interspinous Ligaments

Answer 4

-Lie b/n the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae in the thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and 1st 3 caudal vertebrae.

Question 5

Yellow Ligaments

Answer 5

-Run b/n vertebral arches of adjacent vertebrae

Question 6

Dorsal Longitudinal Ligament

Answer 6

• Lies dorsal to vertebral body on the floor of the vertebral canal.
• Extends cranially to the axis

Question 7

Ventral Longitudinal Ligament

Answer 7

• narrower than the dorsal longitudinal lig.
• Lies ventral to vertebral bodies.
• Runs from sacrum to axis

Question 8

Intercapital Ligaments

Answer 8

-Run dorsally across intervertebral discs b/n heads of first 10-11 pairs of ribs.
-Lie dorsal to intervertebral discs and ventral to dorsal longitudinal lig.
-Function: help stabilize jt b/n vertebra and ribs
(may explain why herniated discs are very uncommon in cranial/middle thoracic region.

Question 9

Atlantooccipital joint

Answer 9

Cranial articular fovea of atlas + occipital condyles of skull
-does flexion and extension (‘yes’ mvmt)

no discs here

Question 10

Atlantoaxial Joint

Answer 10

Caudal articular facet + axis
-Allows primarily rotational mvmt (‘no’ mvmt)

no disc here

Question 11

Transverse Ligament of the Atlas

Answer 11

• holds dens of axis into the fovea dentis of atlas

- attaches to ventral arch of atlas

Question 12

Dorsal Atlantoaxial Ligament

Answer 12

Connects dorsal aspects of atlas and axis.