Osseous Structures of Back Flashcards
What is the function of the vertebral column?
-absorbs shock (curves allow for this)
-protects the spinal cord
What are the regions of the vertebral column?
-cervical (7 vertebrae)
-thoracic (12 vertebrae)
-lumbar (5 vertebrae)
-sacral (sacrum/coccyx bones)
What is a primary (kyphotic) curve of the vertebral column?
Curve with concavity facing anterior and convexity (bump) facing posterior
*backward curve/curls inward
What is a secondary (lordotic) curve of the vertebral column?
Curve with concavity facing posterior and convexity facing anterior
*forward curve/flexes outward
What regions of the vertebral column are primary (kyphotic)?
Thoracic and sacral
What regions of the vertebral column are secondary (lordotic)?
cervical and lumbar
What ONLY curve is present at birth?
Primary (kyphotic)
Think: babies have a curled in appearance, cannot hold their heads up
What curves develop with weight bearing?
Secondary (lordotic) curves
What secondary (lordotic) curve helps with holding up the head/sitting upright?
Cervical
Which secondary (lordotic) curve helps with standing and walking?
Lumbar
What do we look for clinically when observing the vertebral column?
Normal curvature
What is lordosis (condition)?
Excessive secondary curvature in lumbar region (butt and upper back stick out)
*postural changes and orthopedic abnormalities cause this
What is kyphosis (condition)?
Excessive primary curve of thoracic spine
(leaning forward)
*compression fracture, postural habits, pathology
What is scoliosis (condition)?
Lateral deviation with a rotary component
bending curves and twisting of vertebrae
If convexity goes to the right it would be R thoracic scoliosis (and vice versa for left)
*school screenings are available for children so the curve will not progress during growth, treatment based on severity and progression of curve
What movements does the vertebral column aid in?
-flexion (trunk bending foward)
-extension (trunk bending backward)
-lateral flexion (bending toward side)
-rotation (twisting from R to L)
What are the typical vertebrae?
All vertebrae other than C1 and C2
What part of a typical vertebrae gradually increases in size to support increasing body weight?
Body (T4 and below gradually increases)
What features make up the vertebral (neural) arch of a typical vertebrae?
-ring/arch at the back of the vertebrae
pedicle: part of the ring that emerges out of the back of the vertebral body
lamina: flatter part of the ring toward the
What are spinous processes of typical vertebrae? What purpose do they serve?
-bump that projects out of the back of the vertebral arch (junction of R/L lamina merge to form processes)
*attachment/lever for spinal muscles
What are transverse processes of typical vertebrae? What purpose do they serve?
bumps that stick out of the sides of the vertebrae
*attachment/lever for spinal muscles
What is an articular process of a typical vertebrae? What purpose do they serve?
*SUPERIOR AND INFERIOR
bony process sticking up at the junction of the lamina/pedicle
-have a smooth surface to articulate with the vertebrae above/below and form facet joints
What are the vertebral notches of typical vertebrae?
Superior notch: notch of the top of a vertebrae that forms the bottom border of the intervertebral foramen hole
Inferior notch: notch on the bottom of a vertebrae that forms the top border of the intervertebral foramen hole
What is an intervertebral foramen of typical vertebrae?
opening in between vertebrae formed by superior and inferior vertebral notches (formed by two vertebrae coming together
What is a vertebral foramen of typical vertebrae?
Opening formed by the vertebral body and the vertebral arch of a vertebrae
What makes up the vertebral canal of typical vertebrae?
the vertebral foramen (openings) of 2 or more vertebrae form a canal when stacked together
What are the atypical vertebrae?
C1 and C2
What features make up vertebra C1 (atlas)?
-anterior arch (smaller arch in front) with little bump called anterior tubercle
-posterior arch (bigger arch in back) with little bump called posterior tubercle
-lateral mass: bulk of bone on the sides of the vertebrae with:
-superior facets that articulate with the occiput to allow flexion and extension
-inferior facets that articulate with C2 for rotation movement
-transverse processes: processes that stick out on the side (with transverse foramen)
What features make up vertebra C2 (axis)?
-dens: large mass that sticks up and allows for pivoting of C1 (rotation of neck/head) synovial joint here !
-vertebral body
-transverse process: stick out on each side
What is the only vertebra that has a dens?
C2 (axis)
What makes up the cervical vertebrae ?
C3-C7
What are the features of cervical vertebrae?
-body: small/rectangular and wider from side to side
-vertebral foramen: triangular shape and LARGE
-transverse foramen: unique to cervical spine! vertebral arteries ascend here
-spinous process: bifid (do not join completely at the end) on C3-5, C7 is the most prominent/largest process of cervical spine
-uncinate process: on top of vertebral bodies, have raised lips/edges
What makes up the thoracic vertebrae?
T1-T12
What shape do the bodies of thoracic vertebrae resemble?
Heart
Also have costal facets!
What are the features of thoracic vertebrae?
-Body (heart)
-vertebral foramen: smaller, circular
-transverse process: HAVE COSTAL FACETS, articulate with RIBS
-spinous process: longest in vertebral column, and extend inferiorly to the segment below
How are the spinous processes of thoracic vertebrae unique?
They have costal facets that articulate with the ribs called transverse costal facets
What makes up the lumbar vertebrae?
L1-L5
What shape do the bodies of lumbar vertebrae resemble?
Kidney
What features make up the lumbar vertebrae?
-body: kidney shaped
-vertebral foramen: larger than thoracic but smaller than cervical
-spinous processes: sturdy, “hatchet” shaped
What is the sacrum?
Bone at the bottom of the vertebral column (S1-S5)
What are the features of the sacrum?
-apex: inferior end of the sacrum
-base: top of the sacrum (superior portion of S1)
-median sacral crest: a midline crest formed by fused spinous processes (all fuse together to form one bone/ridge)
What is the promontory of the sacrum?
A prominent ridge at the very top/base of the sacrum
What is the ala portion of the sacrum?
The superior/lateral portion of the sacrum
What is the sacral hiatus?
Inferior opening of the sacral calnal at the apex of the sacrum (sometimes used for needle insertion during inferior epidural approach)
What are sacral cornu (horns)?
Two raised bumps/horns formed by the pedicules of S5 at the bottom of the sacrum
*easy to palpate and find the sacral hiatus in between them
What is the sacral canal? What does it contain?
A continuation of the spinal/vertebral canal
-sacral nerve roots descend through the canal and exit out of through the openings of the sacrum (cauda equina)
What is the coccyx? What purpose does it serve?
