Lecture 8 : Veterbral column Flashcards
What is the Vertebral column
The central body pillar of the body consists of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs
Functions of the vertebral column
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
Composition of the vertebral column
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
General Characteristics of the Vertebrae:
consists of a rounded body anteriorly and a vertebral arch posteriorly
they enclose the vertebral foramen
body of the vertebrae:
weightbearing part is linked to adjacent vertebrae by interverbal discs and ligaments
Short notes on the vertebral arch:
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)
Short notes on the cervical vertebrae
Small, short and broad
each transverse process perforated by rounded transverse foramen
spinous process is short and bifid
vertebral foramen is large and triangular
function of C1 and C2
allow the head to move
short notes on the C1 (Atlas )
articulates with the head it lacks a body (Spinous process)
C2(axis) (1)
has an odontoid process
C7 (vertebral promins )
longest spinous
function of the intervertebral discs
Muscle attachment
protects the spinal cord
support weight of upper body
function of C1
support the globe of the head and it articulates with the head
function of C2
has a dens process fused body atlas that allows rotation as in no movement
short notes on Thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12)
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
Short notes Lumbar vertebrae
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
Short notes on sacrum:
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
short notes on Coccyx
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
Short notes on the IVD’s
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
Anulus fibrous of the IVD
consists of fibrocartilage in which collagen fibrous are arranged in concentric layers
nucleus pulposus
Avoid gelatinous mass absorbs compression forces between vertebrae
what can abnormal vertebral curvatures result from
Abdominal weight gain
obesity and pregnancy
poor posture
weakness or paralysis
Functions of the Foramina
Allow structures such as spinal nerves and blood vessels to pass in and out of the vertebral canal
12 pairs of ?
Ribs