Lecture 8 : Veterbral column

Question 1

What is the Vertebral column

Answer 1

The central body pillar of the body consists of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs

Question 2

Functions of the vertebral column

Answer 2

Supports the skull, pectoral girdle, upper limb and thoracic cage

Transmits body sigh to lower limb via pelvic girdle

Shields spinal cord which passes through its cavity

Question 3

Composition of the vertebral column

Answer 3

33 vertebra, subdivided into 5 groups based on structure and location:

Cervical vertebrae: 7 small vertebrae
Thoracic vertebrae: 12 vertebrae (Articulates with the ribs)

Lumbar vertebrae: 5 Large vertebrae

Sacral: 5 Vertebrae

Coccygeal: 4 bones which fuse

Question 4

General Characteristics of the Vertebrae:

Answer 4

consists of a rounded body anteriorly and a vertebral arch posteriorly
they enclose the vertebral foramen

Question 5

body of the vertebrae:

Answer 5

weightbearing part is linked to adjacent vertebrae by interverbal discs and ligaments

Question 6

Short notes on the vertebral arch:

Answer 6

consists of a pair of cylinder pedicles, which form sides of arch and pair of laminae which posteriorly
consists of 7 processes
1) Spinous process (1)
2)Transverse process (2)
3) Articular process (4)

Question 7

Short notes on the cervical vertebrae

Answer 7

Small, short and broad

each transverse process perforated by rounded transverse foramen

spinous process is short and bifid
vertebral foramen is large and triangular

Question 8

function of C1 and C2

Answer 8

allow the head to move

Question 9

short notes on the C1 (Atlas )

Answer 9

articulates with the head it lacks a body (Spinous process)

Question 10

C2(axis) (1)

Answer 10

has an odontoid process

Question 11

C7 (vertebral promins )

Answer 11

longest spinous

Question 12

function of the intervertebral discs

Answer 12

Muscle attachment
protects the spinal cord
support weight of upper body

Question 13

function of C1

Answer 13

support the globe of the head and it articulates with the head

Question 14

function of C2

Answer 14

has a dens process fused body atlas that allows rotation as in no movement

Question 15

short notes on Thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12)

Answer 15

medium sized and heart shaped

vertebral foramen: Small and circular

spine: long and inclined downwards and Bodies become more
massive inferiorly

costal facets: presents on sides of the body and transverse process
T11-T12 has np facets

Question 16

Short notes Lumbar vertebrae

Answer 16

Body: is large and kidney shaped

vertebral foramen: is large and triangular

process: transverse( thin and long )

facets: no rib articular facets, no transverse foremind

Question 17

Short notes on sacrum:

Answer 17

Single bone formed by 5 fused sacral vertebrae.

curved and shaped like an inverted triangle

base: upper border articulates with L5
apex: narrow, attached inferiorly to coccyx

anterior surface: concave and smooth

posterior: convex and roughed

Question 18

short notes on Coccyx

Answer 18

consists of 4 vertebrae fused form a single small triangular bone attached to lower end of sacrum

1st coccygeal bone is usually not completely fused to 2nd

Question 19

Short notes on the IVD’s

Answer 19

they are the main structure that bind together to the vertebral bodies
- extended from C2 to sacrum
- Responsible for 1/4 of length of vertical column

each disc has an outer anulus fibrous which surrounds an inner nucleus pulposus

Question 20

Anulus fibrous of the IVD

Answer 20

consists of fibrocartilage in which collagen fibrous are arranged in concentric layers

Question 21

nucleus pulposus

Answer 21

Avoid gelatinous mass absorbs compression forces between vertebrae

Question 22

what can abnormal vertebral curvatures result from

Answer 22

Abdominal weight gain
obesity and pregnancy
poor posture
weakness or paralysis

Question 23

Functions of the Foramina

Answer 23

Allow structures such as spinal nerves and blood vessels to pass in and out of the vertebral canal

Question 24

12 pairs of ?

Answer 24

Ribs

Question 25

Characteristics of the ribs

Answer 25

• long, flat bone
• consists of
  –Curved shaft
  –Head
  —neck -tubercle
  –Shaft

Question 26

notes the curved shaft of the ribs

Answer 26

has anterior and posterior ends
anterior ends: continuous with costal cartilage
posterior ends: attaches to thoracic vertebrae

Question 27

notes of the head of the rib structure

Answer 27

Expanded
has 2 facets for articulating with the vertebra with its corresponding vertebrae

Question 28

notes on the neck of a rib

Answer 28

constricted portion between head and tubercle

Question 29

notes on the tubercle of a rib

Answer 29

prominence at junction of the neck with shaft has facet for articulating with transverse process

Question 30

Notes on the shaft of a rib

Answer 30

Thin and flat
inferior border and has costal groove

Question 31

True ribs

Answer 31

The first 7 ribs

attach to sternum by separate bars of hyaline cartilage

Question 32

vertebrosternal

Answer 32

true ribs

Question 33

False ribs

Answer 33

ribs : 8-12

don’t attach directly to the sternum

vertebrochondral ribs fuse together and merge with
cartilage of rib 7

Question 34

notes on vertebrochondral ribs

Answer 34

rib 8-10

Question 35

notes on floating ribs

Answer 35

they have no connection
with the sternum.

Question 36

notes on the sternum

Answer 36

Flat bone
lies in the midline
consists of the manubrium, body and xiphoid

Question 37

notes on the manubrium

Answer 37

articulates with body
1st rib costal cartilage and clavicle

Question 38

body of the sternum

Answer 38

Flattened , transverse ridges on anterior surface
articulates with ribs 2-7 on either

Question 39

notes on the xiphoid process

Answer 39

Smallest part
initially it is cartilaginous
may be wide
thin
pointed
bifid or perforated
ossified in the adult.