Lab 1 - The Vertebral Column Flashcards
How many vertebrae do we have?
32-34
“Breakfast at 7, lunch at 12, dinner at 5”
- CI - CVII
- TI - TXII
- LI-LV
- Sacrum (S1-S5)
- Coccyx (3-5)
What are the different curvatures of the V.C?
- Primary: Concave anteriorly - Cervical and lumbar
- Secondary: Convex anteriorly - Thoracic and sacral (develops and matures throughout early-life and development)
What are the different conditions where curvatures of the spine are abnormal?
- Kyphosis (hunchback)
- Exaggerated concave currvature in thoracic region (bad posture, elder)
- Lordosis (ass out)
- Exaggerated convex cuvature in the lumbar region
- Scoliosis
- Additional lateral curvature(s) (when bending down, not straight)
Common vertebral features?
- Vertebral body (holds weight)
- Vertebral Arch (lamina, pedicle)
- Vertebral foramen
- Sup/Inf articular processes
- Spinous process
- Transverse processes
- Sup/Inf vertebral notches
- Intervertebral foramen (spinal nerve)
Cervical vertebral features?
- Large vertebral foramen (spinal cord is the largest in the cervical region)
- Spinous process is bifid (bifurcates into two)
- Transverse foramina (hole in the transverse process) in which the vertebral artery passes
- Uncinate processes (longitudinal on the body)
What are the abnormal cervical vertebrae?
C7
Long spinous process (first one we feel posteriorly)
C1 (Atlas)
Designed to hold up head
No vertebral body and spinous process, posterior and anterior arches
Lateral masses (thickening of the arches) with superior articular facets (skull sits on)
C2 (Axis)
Dens (process) on the anterior side on which the skull rotates around (axis)
Thoracic and lumbar vertebral features?
Thoracic vertebras (elephant/giraffe)
- Heart-shaped vertebral body
- Spinous process is long, narrow and angled (in order to create the concave curvature)
- Facets for ribs
Lumbar (moose)
- Large, kidney shaped body to support weight
Joints of the vertebral column?
- Atlanto-occipital joint
Between atlas and skull
Sup. Articular facets + occipital condyles
Allows flexion/extension (nodding “yes”)
- Atlanto-axial joint
Between atlas and axis
3 articulations: Dens (axis)/ Anterior arch (atlas) + 2 articular processes
Transverse ligaments: Slings the dens to the anterior side of C1
Alar ligaments
- Uncovertebral joint (synovial joint)
Between uncinate processes (cervical region)
Synovial joint to allow movement on neck
- Intervertebral joint
Between vertebral bodies
Intervertebral disc (solid symphysis joint) “the jelly-filled donut”
- Annulus fibrosus (outer,inner ring) Tough fibrocartilage
- Nucleus pulposus (shock absorbant)
- Disc herniation: Nucleus pulposus protrudes through annulus fibrosus and invades intervertebral foramen (where spinal nerves are)
(Degeneration, protrusion, sequestration, extrusion)
- Zygapophyseal joint (Synovial joint, plane/gliding)
Between articular processes
Transverse in cervical region (roof)
What’s a disc herniation?
Nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral joint protrudes through annulus fibrosus and invades the intervertebral foramen where the spinal nerves are located
Location of the atlanto occipital joint? Function?
Superior articulate facets of the atlas and occipital condyles
Allows for flexion/extension of the neck (nodding)
Location, function of atlanto-axial joint? Ligaments?
Between atlas and axis
3 articulations: Dens (axis) - Anterior arch (atlas)
+ 2 articular processes
Ligaments:
Transverse ligaments: Slings around the dens horizontally
Alar ligaments (“wings”)
Location, components and function of intervertebral joint?
Between the vertebral bodies
“The jelly-filled donut”
Annulus fibrosus (outer,inner ring)
Tough fibrocartilage
Nucleus pulposus (shock absorbant)
Location, articulation and classification of the zygapophyseal joint?
- Between articular processes
- Transverse in cervical region (roof)
- Fontal in thoracic region (chest-pump)
- Sagittal in lumbar region (clap clap clap)
Which ligaments of the vertebral column limit extension? Flexion? Lateral flexion/extension?
Extension
- Anterior longitudinal ligament
Flexion
- Posterior longitudinal ligament
- Supraspinous ligament (and Ligamentum Nuchae)
- Ligamentum flavum
- Interspinous ligament
Lateral flexion
- Intertransverse ligaments
Features of the sacrum?
Anterior:
- Sacral canal
- Base (body) / Sacral promontory
- Transverse ridges
- Sacral foramina
- Sacral ala (wing)
Posterior:
- Median sacral crest
- Lateral sacral crest (before foramina)
- Sacral hiatus
