Lecture 16 - Vertebral Column

Question 1

What are the different regions of the vertebral column and how many vertebra are in each region?

L16 S12

Answer 1

• cervical: 7
• thoracic: 12
• lumbar: 5
• sacral: 5
• coccygeal: 3-4

Question 2

What is the arterial supply of the vertebral column in each region?

L16 S14

Answer 2

Cervical:

• vertebral arteries
• cervical arteries

Thoracic:

-posterior intercostal arteries

Lumbar:

• subcostal arteries
• lumbar arteries

Sacral:

• iliolumbar artreires
• medial/lateral sacral arteries

Question 3

Identify each of the following components of the primary curvatures:

• when it is present
• which direction the curvature is
• where it is found
• what exaggeration results in

L16 S16

Answer 3

Timing:

-present at birth

Direction:

-convex posteriorly

Location:

• thoracic
• sacral

Exaggeration:

-kyphosis

Question 4

Identify each of the following components of the secondary curvatures:

• when it is present
• which direction the curvature is
• where it is found
• what exaggeration results in

L16 S16

Answer 4

Timing:

-aquired after birth

Direction:

-concave posteriorly

Location:

• cervical
• lumbar

Exaggeration:

-lordosis

Question 5

Identify which region the following vertebra comes from and identify the structures indicated by lines.

Answer 5

Typical cervical vertebra (C3-7)

Question 6

Identify the following vertebrae and identify the sturctures indicated by lines.

Answer 6

Question 7

Identify which region the following vertebra comes from and identify the structures indicated by lines and the star.

Answer 7

Typical thoracic vertebrae (T2-9)

Question 8

What are the atypical thoracic vertebrae and what makes them atypical?

L16 S30

Answer 8

T1:

• complete superior costal facet for first rib
• normal inferior demifacet for second rib

T10:

• complete costal facet on body/pedicle for tenth rib
• may have facets on transverse processes

T11-12:

• complete costal facet on body/pedicle for eleventh and twelfth ribs respectively
• no facets on transverse processes

Question 9

Identify which region the following vertebra comes from and identify the structures indicated by lines.

Answer 9

Lumbar vertebra

Question 10

Identify which region the following vertebra comes from and identify the structures indicated by lines.

Answer 10

Lumbar vertebrae and coccygeal vertebrae

Question 11

Identify each of the following ligaments in the image below.

Answer 11