Lecture 7: Vertebral Column

Question 0

Label diagram of vertebrae on slide 9
Label the curvatures of the spine slide 11
And slide 13- typical vertebrae features

Answer 0

Yepido

Question 1

How many vertebrae do we have in our body?
What is the function of the vertebral column?
How many of each vertebrae do we have?

Answer 1

33
Functions:
-protects spinal cord and spinal nerves
-supports weight of body above pelvis
-provides a partly rigid and flexible axis for body
-plays important role in posture and locomotion

Cervical -7
Thoracic- 12 
Lumbar- 5 
Sacrum- 5 (fused) as we age, separate when born 
Coccyx: 4 (Co2-Co4 are fused) 
Total: n= 33 vertebrae

Question 2

Typical vertebral features:

What are the seven process which arise from the vertebral arch of a typical vertebrae

Answer 2

-spinous process x 1
-transverse processes x 2
-articular processes x 4
Slide 14

Question 3

What are the features of the cervical vertebrae

Label diagrams on slide 16, 17 and 18

Answer 3

The vertebral artery which comes of subclavian enters at C6 in the transverse foramen in the cervical vertebrae slide 15
-have the greatest range of movement coz of the thick IVDs, nearly horizontal orientation of articular facets and less mass of body surrounding cervical vertebrae,
-C3-C7 typical
-C1-C2 atypical
-Which ranges of movement?
Flexion and extension is predominant movement
Do allow a small amount of rotation
-transverse processes are also bifid

Question 4

Tell me sumthin about the atlas (C1)

Label diagram on slide 19 and 20

Answer 4

• carries weight of head
• no vertebral body or spinous process
• paired lateral masses (bears weight)
• widest cervical vertebrae (most lateral transverse processes)
• superior articulation with occipital condyles (atlanto-oxxipital joints)
• inferior articulation with (axis) C2

Question 5

Tell me about the axis (C2)

Label slides 22 and 23 of C2

Answer 5

Strongest
Odontoid process (“Dens”)
Small transverse processes
Large bifid spinous process
Superior articulation with “Atlas” C1
Inferior articulation with C3

Question 6

Label slide 24 and 25 of C4 and know its features

Answer 6

Bifurcated spinous process.
Some people have vertebral colum too small. Gets a lamenectomy, cuts out the lamina.
On outside/ lateral sides of body are risen. Has hollowed middle, shaped like a saddle. This prefers flexion and extension becomes of raised periphery so doesn’t favour lateral flexion.

Question 7

Label slide 26 of C7 and describe its features

Answer 7

The longest spinous process. The most prominent spinous process you will see. If it has a short bifurcated process it can’t be C7. The spinous process points out not down like thoracic

Question 8

What is the function of the transverse foramina?

Answer 8

Vertebral artery branches from the SUBCLAVIAN ARTERY. Ascends through C6-C1 to enter foramen magnum.
Slide 28

Question 9

Paediatric cervical spine. Instability is cause by what?

Ie why is injury more likely in a young persons neck?

Answer 9

Pediatric cervical spine
Instability caused by:
• Ligamentous laxity;
• Shallow and angled facet joints;
• Under-developed spinous processes;
• Incomplete ossification of odontoid process;
• Relatively large head;
• Fulcrum of motion at C2-C3 (adults C5-C6);
• Weak neck muscles.
• Younger children more susceptible to upper cervical spine injury (occiput -> C3).
• 8-10-years-old cervical spine reaches adult
proportions.

Question 10

Label a thoracic vertebrae on slide 30, 31 and 32and know its features

Answer 10

It’s thoracic because it has a transverse costal facet, no transverse foramen. Vertebral foramen is more narrow, lateral to medial is still quite narrow, spinous process is quite long and point downwards.

Inferior costal facets, which are on all thoracic spinal segments except for T1. Most important feature is sharp long inferior pointing spinous process.
The superior costal facet goes together with inferior costal facet of T3 provides an articulation with the rib

Prefer rotation over all others ranges of motion except for lateral flexion, especially because of ribs. Primary movement is rotation.