Lesson 5: Vertebral Column

Question 1

How many bones does the vertebral column contain?

Answer 1

31

Question 2

What are the primary and secondary curves in the human spine?

Answer 2

Thoracic and pelvic are primary since birth

Cervical and lumbar are secondary curves that develop after birth.

Question 3

An abnormal lateral rotation of the spine, normally occurring in the thoracic region

Answer 3

Scoliosis

Question 4

An abnormal dorsal thoracic common in people with osteoporosis; often known as “hunchback”

Answer 4

Kyphosis

Question 5

“Swayback”, an accentuated lumbar curvature that is often seen in pregnant people or people who carry more weight in their stomachs.

Answer 5

Lordosis

Question 6

With the exception of C1, which does not have a body, the body is the most anterior and largest vertebral feature—separated from the adjacent bodies above and below by a fibrous cartilaginous intervertebral disc.

Answer 6

Vertebral body

Question 7

An opening located posterior to the vertebral body for the passage of the spinal cord and meninges

Answer 7

Vertebral foramen

Question 8

An opening located between the adjacent vertebrae that allows the spinal nerves to exit the vertebral canal

Answer 8

Intervertebral foramen

Question 9

A projection extending posteriorly in the midline

Answer 9

Spinous process

Question 10

A projection that extends laterally from the side of the vertebra at the junction

Answer 10

Transverse process

Question 11

How many bones are in the cervical spine?

Answer 11

7, with C1 and C2 being specialized vertebrae (allows head to rotate on the neck)

Question 12

The atlas does not have a body; it is a ring of bone that articulates with the occipital bone of the cranium.

Answer 12

C1 (atlas)

Question 13

The body of the axis has an upward projection (dens) upon which the atlas can rotate.

Answer 13

C2 (axis)

Question 14

What are the details of the cervical vertebrae? Vertebral foramen? Body (C2-C7)? Spinous process? Transverse process?

Answer 14

Large and triangular

Small and broad

Short and bifid (C7 has an extended process)

Short, with a transverse foramen for the passage of the vertebral arteries

Question 15

What are the details of the thoracic vertebrae? Vertebral foramen? Body? Spinous process? Transverse process?

Answer 15

Small and round

Heart-shaped

Long and thin

Large and club-like

Question 16

How many bones are in the thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 16

12 (form the vertebral column of the thorax and articulate with the ribs)

Question 17

How many bones in the lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 17

5 (largest vertebrae, which are designed to support the weight of the body)

Question 18

What are the details of the lumbar vertebrae? Vertebral foramen? Body? Spinous process? Transverse process?

Answer 18

Triangular

Large and kidney-shaped

Quadrangular

Long and thin

Question 19

How many bones are in the sacrum and coccyx?

Answer 19

Five sacral vertebrae fuse to form the large triangular sacrum. Concave anteriorly and articulates laterally with the hip bones

3-5 coccygeal vertebrae fuse to form the coccyx

Question 20

What makes up the thoracic cage?

Answer 20

12 thoracic vertebrae, 12 ribs, and the sternum

Question 21

What are the parts of the sternum?

Answer 21

Manubrium, body, and xiphoid process

Question 22

The superior sternal bone that is triangular in shape and extends from T3 to T4

Answer 22

Manubrium

Question 23

The middle sternal bone that extends from T5 to T9

Answer 23

Body

Question 24

The inferior sternal bone that is thin and pointed

Answer 24

Xiphoid process

Question 25

Which ribs attach anteriorly to the sternum via strips of costal cartilage?

Answer 25

Ribs 1-7, aka true ribs

Question 26

Which ribs are attached to the 7th costal cartilage?

Answer 26

Ribs 8-10, aka false ribs b/c they don’t have their own dedicated costal cartilage

Question 27

Which ribs DO NOT attach to the sternum at all?

Answer 27

Ribs 11-12, aka floating ribs

Question 28

What are the articulations of the ribs?

Answer 28

Every rib forms an articulation with a facet on the body of its corresponding vertebra

Ribs 1-10 form a secondary articulation with the transverse process

Ribs 2-10 articulate with a facet on the vertebra superior to them

Question 29

Describe the 1st rib

Answer 29

Short, broad, flattened, and markedly curved

Head: located at the posterior aspect of the rib; small and rounded; articulates with the body of T1

Neck: joins the head of the shaft

Question 30

Describe the 6th rib

Answer 30

Typical rib; has a head, neck, and shaft

Head: expanded; it has two facets for T5 and T6

Shaft: thin, flat, and curved

Question 31

Describe the 12 rib

Answer 31

Head: large, with one articular facet for T12

Shaft: very short, without a tubercle