Lecture 16: Vertebral Column

Question 1

What are the principal roles of the vertebral column?

Answer 1

protect the spinal cord and transfer loads from the head, trunk and upper limb to the pelvis

Question 2

What are the regions of the vertebral column?

Answer 2

cervical (7)
thoracic (12)
lumbar (5)
sacral (5)
coccygeal (3-4)

Question 3

What arteries are part of the cervical region?

Answer 3

vertebral and cervical arteries

Question 4

What arteries are part of the thoracic region?

Answer 4

posterior intercostal arteries

Question 5

What arteries are part of the lumber region?

Answer 5

subcostal and lumbar arteries

Question 6

what arteries are part of the sacral region?

Answer 6

iliolumbar arteries

medial and lateral sacral arteries

Question 7

Describe a primary curvature

Answer 7

present at birth
convex posteriorly
examples: thoracic and sacral
exaggeration is kyphosis

Question 8

Describe secondary curvature

Answer 8

acquired later
concave posteriorly
examples: cervical and lumbar
exaggeration: lordosis

Question 9

What is the body of the vertebrae called?

Answer 9

centrum

Question 10

What does the pedicle do?

Answer 10

attach vertebral arch to body

Question 11

What is the laminae?

Answer 11

roof of vertebral canal

Question 12

What is C1?

Answer 12

atlas

Question 13

What is C2?

Answer 13

axis

Question 14

What does the thoracic vertebrae have attached?

Answer 14

ribs

Question 15

What does the superior costal demifacet of thoracic vertebrae do?

Answer 15

articulation with head of own rib

Question 16

What does the inferior costal demifacet of the thoracic vertebrae do?

Answer 16

articulation with head of inferior rib

Question 17

Describe thoracic vertebrae #1

Answer 17

complete costal demifacet for rib

inferior costal demifacet on body for rib 2

Question 18

Describe thoracic vertebrae #10

Answer 18

complete costal facet on pedicle and body

may have costal facet on transverse process

Question 19

Describe thoracic vertebrae #11, 12

Answer 19

costal facet on each pedicle

no costal facets on transverse processes

Question 20

Describe lumbar vertebrae

Answer 20

large, bulky centrum
broad spinous processes
no rib articulations
articular facets are sagittal

Question 21

What does the sacrum consist of?

Answer 21

5 fused vertebrae

Question 22

The median crest of the sacrum is what?

Answer 22

fused spinous processes

Question 23

What is the intermediate crests of the sacrum?

Answer 23

fused articular processes

Question 24

What is the lateral crests of the sacrum?

Answer 24

fused transverse processes

Question 25

Flexion and extension of the vertebral column occur in the ____ region

Answer 25

lumbar

Question 26

Rotation of the upper trunk of the vertebral column occurs primarily in the _____ region

Answer 26

thoracic

Question 27

Describes the anterior longitudinal ligament of the vertebral column

Answer 27

limits extension | reinforces anterior annulus fibers

Question 28

Describe the posterior longitudinal ligament of the vertebral column

Answer 28

limits flexion | reinforces posterior annulus fibers

Question 29

The supra spinous ligament is called the _____

Answer 29

ligamentum nuchae

Question 30

Describe the inter spinous ligament

Answer 30

limits flexion | base on one spinous process to next spinous process

Question 31

Describe the ligament flavum

Answer 31

limits flexion extends from lamina to lamina forms part of roof of vertebral canal

Question 32

The inter transverse ligaments are mostly in the _____ region

Answer 32

lumbar