L2_ The vertebral column

Question 1

How many vertebrae in the vertebral column (with the divisions)

Answer 1

32-34 vertebrae

7 Cervical Vertebrae (CI to CVII)
12 Thoracic Vertebrae (TI to TXII)
5 Lumbar Vertebrae (LI to LV)
Sacrum ( 5 fused sacral vertebrae I-V)
Coccyx (3-5 fused coccygeal vertebrae I-IV)

Question 2

What’s the primary curvature? and where is it placed in the vertebral column?

Answer 2

Concave anteriorly
- kyphotic

It’s in the thoracic and sacral spine

Question 3

What’s the secondary curvature? and where is it placed in the vertebral column?

Answer 3

Concave posteriorly (or convex anteriorly)
- lordotic

It’s in the cervical and lumbar spine

Question 4

What’s the abnormal curvature called: cervical kyphosis?

Answer 4

The curvature in the cervical spine instead of being lordotic its kyphotic

Question 5

What’s the abnormal curvature called: Thoracic Kyphosis?

Answer 5

Hypercurvature in the thoracic spine

Question 6

What’s the abnormal curvature called: Lumbar Lordosis?

Answer 6

Hypercurvature in the lumbar spine (happens in pregnancy)

Question 7

What’s the abnormal curvature called: Scoliosis?

Answer 7

Curvature (medial and lateral) in the thoracic and lumbar spine

Question 8

what’s the pedicle?

Answer 8

in between the vertebral body and the transverse process of the vertebrae

Question 9

what’s the lamina?

Answer 9

in between the transverse process and the spinous process

Question 10

Where’s the vertebral foramen?

Answer 10

the link between the inferior vertebral notch and the superior vertebral notch of 2 vertebrea creates the vertebral foramen where the spinal nerve can exit the spinal cord

Question 11

What’s the difference between the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrea?

Answer 11

Cervical:

• vertebral foramen -> shaped like a triangle
• bifid spinous process instead of spinous process
• has transverse foramina to allow the vertebral artery to pass through
• Atlas: no vertebral body + no spinous process, but has instead posterior and anterior arch. It also has superior articular facets
• Axis: has a dens process to attach with the atlas in the atlanto-axial joint

Thoracic:

• vertebral foramen -> circular
• has facets for rib attachment

Lumbar:

• vertebral formamen -> smaller triangle
• really big vertebral body
• short, wide spinous process

Question 12

Describe the atlanto-occipital joint (location, classification, function and supporting ligaments)

Answer 12

location: in between the atlas and the occipital bone of the skull
- they are linked by the superior articular facet of the atlas and the occipital condyles of the base of the skull
classification: synovial joint
function: flexion and extension of the head (nodding yes)
Supporting ligaments: posterior atlanto-occipital membrane (back of the skull to the posterior arch of atlas) and tectorial membrane (anterior arch of atlas to the rounded portion of the skull)

Question 13

Describe the atlanto-axial joint (location, classification and supporting ligaments)

Answer 13

location: in between the atlas and the axis
- they are linked by the dens process of the axis and the anterior arch of the atlas
classification: synovial joint
Supporting ligaments: Alar ligament (secure the dens to the skull), transverse ligament (runs horizontally across the posterior side of the dens), cruciform ligament (longitudinal fibers supporting the dens)

Question 14

Describe the intervertebral joint (location, classification and specificality)

Answer 14

location: in between vertebral bodies
classification: symphysis joint
Specificality: They are formed by the Annulus Fibrosus
- there’s an inner and outer ring
- there’s the nucleus pulposus inside of it -> disc herniation

Question 15

Describe the uncovertebral joint (location, function and classification)

Answer 15

location: in between the uncinate process and the vertebral body in the cervical spine
Function: assist in flexion/extension of cervical spine and limits lateral flexion
classification: synovial joint

Question 16

Describe the Zygapophyseal joint (location, specificality and classification)

Answer 16

location: in between the inferior articular process of the vertebrae above and he superior articular process of the vertebrae under
Classification: synovial joint ->plane and gliding
Specificality:
- In the cervical spine they are transverse/horizontal plane
- In the thoracic spine they are coronal/frontal plane
- In the lumbar spine they are sagittal plane

Question 17

Which parts of the vertebral column can do extension and flexion?

Answer 17

cervical and lumbar spine

Question 18

Which parts of the vertebral column can do lateral extension and lateral flexion?

Answer 18

cervical and lumabar spine

Question 19

Which parts of the vertebral column can do rotation of the head and the neck and rotation of the upper trunk?

Answer 19

cervical and thoracic spine

Question 20

Descrive the anterior longitudinal ligament (location, function)

Answer 20

location: anterior to the vertebral bodies and holding all the vertebral bodie together
function: prevents hyperextension

Question 21

Descrive the posterior longitudinal ligament (location, function)

Answer 21

location: posterior to the vertebral bodies and holding all the vertebral bodie together
function: prevents hyperflexion

Question 22

Descrive the supraspinous ligament (location, function)

Answer 22

location: The continuation of the ligamentum nuchae and lining the spinous process
function: prevents hyperflexion

Question 23

Descrive the ligamentum nuchae (location, function)

Answer 23

location: in between the occipital protruberance and the spinous process of CVII
function: prevents hyperflexion

Question 24

Descrive the interspinous ligament (location, function)

Answer 24

location: in between the spinous process
function: limits the flexion of the spine

Question 25

Descrive the ligamentum flavum (location, function)

Answer 25

location: extending between the lamina of adjacent vertebrae
function: preserve an upright posture

Question 26

Descrive the intertransverse ligament (location, function)

Answer 26

location: in between the transverse process
Function: limit lateral flexion of the spine