Lecture 3 - The Back Flashcards
How many vertebrae are present in an adult? List them
33 vertebrae in total 7 cervical 12 thoracic 5 lumbar 5 sacral ( fuse to become sacrum) 4 coccygeal (fuse to become coccyx)
Which vertebrae permit movement?
Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar (upper regions only)
Which movements do the trunk permit?
- forward flexion
- lateral flexion
- Extension
- Rotation
In a typical vertebrae, what does the intervertebral foramen allow for?
passage for spinal cord
What are other names for the 1st and 2nd cervical vertebrae?
1st cervical = atlas (C1)
2nd cervical = axis (C2)
In a superior view of the C1 vertebrae, list the visible components:
- anterior arch
- transverse ligament
- transverse foramen
- vertebral foramen
- posterior arch
In a postosuperior view of the C2 (Atlas) vertebrae, list the visible components:
- body
- dens
What is the body size and shape of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae?
Cervical: small and rectangular
Thoracic: medium and heart shaped (costal facets for
ribs)
Lumbar: Large and kidney shaped
What are some defining features of the TVP for the 3 upper vertebrae?
Cervical: contain foramina for passage of vertebral arteries
Thoracic: have articular facets for ribs
Lumbar: Long and slender
What are some defining features of the spinous process for the 3 upper vertebrae?
cervical: bifid
thoracic: long and slender
lumbar: short and hatchet shaped
What are some defining features of the articular facets for the 3 upper vertebrae?
Cervical:
- facing superiorly and inferiorly
- allows for movement in all directions
Thoracic:
- Facing anteriorly and posteriorly
- rotation and lateral flexion
Lumbar:
- facing medially and laterally
- flexion and extension
Joints of the vertebral bodies are known as _______ while joints of the vertebral arches are known as _______
vertebral bodies = symphyses
vertebral arches = zygopophyseal/facet joints
What are symphyses? What type of joint is it?
joints of the vertebral bodies are secondary cartilaginous joints
In intervertebral discs, what acts as shock absorbers?
- outer annulus fibrosus and inner nucleus pulposus
What type of joint is formed by the articulation of the superior articular facet and the inferior articular facet?
plane/gliding synovial joints
The atlanto-occipital joint is formed by which articulation?
articulation between C1 (atlas) and the occipital bone of the skull
What type of joint does the atlanto-occipital joint form and what movement does it allow for?
- condyloid, synovial joint
- flexion and extension ( “yes” nodding movement)
The atlanto-axial joint is formed by which articulation?
articulation between C1 (atlas) and dens of C2 (axis)
The atlanto-axial joint is classified as what type of joint?
What movements does it allow?
- pivot, synovial joint
- rotation of the head, shaking the head “no”
List the ligaments of the vertebral column
- nuchal ligament
- supraspinous ligament
- interspinous ligament
- Anterior Longitudinal ligament
- Posterior Longitudinal Ligament
- Intertransverse ligament
List the 4 vertebral curvatures:
- cervical
- thoracic
- lumbar
- sacral
What is the curvature of the vertebral column in a fetus?
concave anteriorly
Primary curvatures are also known as _____
kyphotic curvatures
present at birth
In a baby who can hold up their head, the cervical vertebrae has changed to _____
convex anteriorly
