MSK Session 5- The vertebral column

Question 0

What is the vertebral column made of?

Answer 0

33 small bones joined together by ligaments

Question 1

What proportion of height does the vertebral column account for?

Answer 1

42%

Question 2

What is the vertebral column the main component of?

Answer 2

The axial skeleton

Question 3

How long is the vertebral column?

Answer 3

70-75 cm

Question 4

What bones does the vertebral column articulate with? (4)

Answer 4

Head,
Scapula,
Ribs,
Hip bones

Question 5

What is primary curvature?

Answer 5

The anterior concave nature of the spinal cord found in the foetus

Question 6

What is Kyphosis?

Answer 6

Exaggeration of the anterior curvature of the thoracic spine. (Leaning forwards)

Question 7

When does the cervical spine develop the first posterior concavity?

Answer 7

3 months old when baby starts to lift head.

Question 8

When does the lumbar spine develop a posterior concavity?

Answer 8

6-12 months when child begins to stand and walk

Question 9

What is lordosis?

Answer 9

An exaggeration of the posterior cervical and/or lumbar spine. (Leaning backwards)

Question 10

What happens to the vertebral column in old age?

Answer 10

Reverts back to the C shape of the foetus as secondary curvatures disappear.

Question 11

How many discrete and fused vertebrae are there?

Answer 11

• discrete= 24

- fused= 9

Question 12

What do discrete vertebrae allow?

Answer 12

Flexibility

Question 13

What emerges from the vertebral arches?

Answer 13

2 transverse processes and 1 spinous process

Question 14

What is the pedicle?

Answer 14

The part of the vertebral arch between the body and transverse process.

Question 15

What is the lamina?

Answer 15

The part of the vertebral arch between the transverse and spinous process.

Question 16

Where are articular facets found?

Answer 16

At the junction between the pedicle and lamina

Question 17

What joints form between adjacent vertebral arches, and what are their function?

Answer 17

Synovial joints

Prevent anterior displacements of vertebrae.

Question 18

What is an intervertebral foramen formed from and what does it allow?

Answer 18

Formed from the superior and inferior vertebral notches above and below the pedicle.
Allows segmental nerves to pass from the cord to the periphery.

Question 19

What are intervertebral discs responsible for?

Answer 19

Flexibility and act as a shock absorber

Question 20

What length of the vertebral column do intervertebral discs account for?

Answer 20

19 cm.

25%

Question 21

What are the two regions of the intervertebral disc called?

Answer 21

Central- nucleus palposus

Peripheral- annulus fibrosus

Question 22

What are the two major ligaments of the vertebral column?

Answer 22

Anterior longitudinal and posterior longitudinal

Question 23

Which longitudinal ligament is stronger?

Answer 23

Anterior

Question 24

Why is the ligamentum flavour yellow?

Answer 24

High content of elastic fibres

Question 25

What does the ligamentum flavum join?

Answer 25

Laminae of adjacent vertebrae

Question 26

What does the supraspinatous ligament do?

Answer 26

Joins spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae

Question 27

What do interspinous ligaments do?

Answer 27

Join spinous processes along their adjacent borders

Question 28

What does the ligament nuchae do? (3)

Answer 28

Maintain the secondary curvature of cervical spine
Helps the cervical spine support the head.
Major site of attachment of neck and trunk muscles

Question 29

What are the two distinguishing features of cervical vertebrae?

Answer 29

They have a bifid spinous process

They have oval transverse foramen

Question 30

What are the two distinguishing features of thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 30

Facets on the sides of the body

Coastal facets on the transverse processes

Question 31

What are the two distinguishing features of lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 31

Lack of transverse foramina

Lack of coastal facets

Question 32

What is the order of size of vertebra? (Big to small)

Answer 32

Lumbar
Thoracic
Cervical

Question 33

What is the atlas?

Answer 33

C1

Question 34

What is the axis?

Answer 34

C2

Question 35

What is unusual about the atlas? (2)

Answer 35

No body

No spinous process

Question 36

What is the function of the Dens on the axis?

Answer 36

Prevents horizontal displacement of the atlas.

Question 37

What is scoliosis?

Answer 37

Lateral bending of the spine