Padalecki 1 Flashcards
The vertebral column is composed of ___ vertebrae divided into ___ groups based upon their location.
- 33
- 5
5 vertebral groups
- 7 cervical vertebrae 2. 12 thoracic vertebrae 3. 5 lumbar vertebrae
- 5 sacral vertebrae
- 4 coccygeal vertebrae
The weight bearing part
Body
The protective part
Vertebral arch
The vertebral arch is composed of _____, which are the part of the arch which connects the transverse process and the lamina to the vertebral body and _____, which are the dorsal part of arch connected to pedicles.
- Pedicles (2)
- Laminae (2)
Of the 7 processes, the ______ are a bony part of synovial joint; contains 2 superior and 2 inferior facets for articulations with other vertebrae.
Articular processes (4)
Of the 7 processes, the _____ are the lateral processes originating from the junction between the pedicle and the lamina.
Transverse processes (2)
Of the 7 processes, the ______ are a vertebral part that projects dorsally from the arch where the 2 laminae join; gives attachment for muscles and ligaments.
Spinous process (1)
the opening in one vertebrae bounded by the body, the pedicles, and the laminae.
Vertebral foramen
The spinal canal formed by the successive vertebral foramina. This canal forms a continuous channel which contains the spinal cord, nerve roots, spinal nerves, meninges, and vessels.
Vertebral canal
The two notches are the _____, a small notch above the pedicle, and the _____ small notch below the pedicle. These form the _____.
-Superior vertebral notch
-Inferior vertebral notch
-Intervertebral
foramen
An opening formed by superior and inferior vertebral notches of adjacent vertebrae; the dorsal root ganglia of spinal nerves lie in the intervertebral foramina, and it is in this area that the dorsal and ventral roots join.
Intervertebral foramen
Foramina in the cervical transverse processes of the first 6 cervical vertebrae; often present in C7. The foramina contain the vertebral arteries and veins.
Transverse foramina
Most cervical vertebrae have ______ (except #1 and #7)
Bifid spines
1) Lacks a body and a spinous process
2) Contains an anterior arch and anterior tubercle, a posterior arch and posterior tubercle, and a lateral mass
C1 (atlas) - first cervical vertebra
1) Dens (odontoid process) – on anterior part; projects into vertebral foramen of the atlas
2) Atlantoaxial joint – joint between the atlas and the axis’ dens
C2 (axis) – second cervical vertebra
C7 – ______: contains a long spinous process and often has transverse foramina
vertebra prominens
The thoracic vertebrae contain 6 _______ (2 superior, 2 inferior, and two transverse) – location for articulation with ribs; located on the body and on the transverse process
costal facets
The thoracic vertebrae contain long, slender spinous process - no costal facets, but they do have _______.
articular processes
Anterior and superior part of the body of S1
Sacral promontory
Aperture present where S5 lamina and spinous process are absent; leads into the sacral canal and is the inferior opening of the vertebral canal.
Sacral hiatus
Sacral articulations
1) Lumbosacral
2) Sacroiliac
a. Known as the tailbone
b. Usually consists of 4 vertebrae
The 4 coccygeal vertebrae or coccyx
A defect allowing part of a vertebral arch to be separate from its body
Spondylolysis
A defect of the vertebral arch resulting from the failure of fusion of the halves of the arch; usually occurs in L5 and/or S1
Spina bifida
From an A/P view, the thoracic, sacral and coccygeal curves are _____. These are known as primary curves.
Anteriorly concave
From an A/P view, the cervical and lumbar curves are ______. These are known as secondary curves. The cervical curve allows the infant to hold its head erect. The lumbar curve assists the infant in upright posture and walking
Anteriorly convex
Exaggerated thoracic curvature (“over concaved” in the thoracic vertebrae), sometimes referred to as “humpback” or “hunchback”
Kyphosis
Exaggerated lumbar curvature (“over convexed” in the lumbar vertebrae), usually due to the anterior rotation of the pelvis; sometimes referred to as “swayback”.
Lordosis
Abnormal lateral curvature of the vertebrae; often described as a “crooked” back.
Scoliosis
Ligaments associated with the vertebral column
- Supraspinous
- Interspinous
- Ligamentum Flavum
A thin, continuous ligament that attaches to the tip of each spinous process from the sacrum to C7. From C7 to the skull, the ligamentum nuchae is the name of the somewhat more prominent ligament that connects the tips of the spinous processes of cervical vertebrae.
Supraspinous
Unite adjacent spinous processes in an oblique direction
Interspinous
Connect laminae of adjacent vertebrae
Ligamentum Flavum
Junction or union between bones.
A joint (or articulation)
2 types of joints
- Cartilaginous
2. Synovial
________ associated with the vertebral column are known as intervertebral joints. These joints are of the subtype known as symphysis, and have the following characteristics:
a. between adjacent vertebral bodies.
b. united to fibrocartilage (intervertebral disc).
c. slightly moveable.
d. An intervertebral disc (fibrocartilage) is located between most vertebral bodies. It contains 2 parts.
Cartilaginous (amphiarthrosis) joints
2 parts of the intervertebral disc (fibrocartilage)
- Anulus fibrosus
2. Nucleus pulposus
the outer fibrous part composed of fibrocartilage arranged in concentric lamellae; attached to rims of vertebral bodies.
Anulus fibrosus
a gelatinous central mass that composes the “core” of the disc. Because of dehydration and degeneration in the nucleus pulposus associated with aging, there is a slight loss in height as we obtain old age. It is the remnant of the notochord.
Nucleus pulposus
Synovial (diarthrosis) joints associated with the vertebral column
- Costotransverse
- Costovertebral
- Zygapophyseal joints (facet joints)
Articulations between the articular processes of the vertebral arches.
1) These are synovial joints which are located between superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae.
2) These joints allow for gliding movements between the vertebrae
Zygapophyseal joints (facet joints)
The spinal cord is continuous with the medulla oblongata; superiorly, it begins at the _______.
foramen magnum
The spinal cord’s tapered, inferior (terminal) end is known as the _______, and it is located inferior to the exit of the coccygeal nerve rootlets from the spinal cord. It occurs at the intervertebral disc between L1 and L2; however, it can vary in its ending from T12 to L3.
medullary cone (conus medullaris)
Why is there a difference between vertebral levels and spinal cord levels?
During fetal growth, the spinal cord and vertebrae do not grow at the same rate; the vertebral column grows faster, leaving the spinal cord shorter than the vertebral column. Because of this discrepancy, the length of the nerve roots increases inferiorly; thus, the lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal nerve roots are longer than the cervical and thoracic nerve roots.
from C4 to T1 segments of the spinal cord; nerve fibers originating from this enlargement supply the upper extremities.
Cervical Enlargement
from L1-S4 segments of the spinal cord; nerve fibers originating from this enlargement supply the lower extremities.
Lumbosacral Enlargement
a. A collection of dorsal and ventral roots of the lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal spinal nerves that travel through the subarachnoid space. They will eventually exit their respective intervertebral foramina.
b. Location: below the level of the conus medullaris and within the subarachnoid space (in CSF).
Cauda equina
a. dorsal median sulcus and septum
b. _______ – where dorsal nerve rootlets are connected to spinal
cord
c. _______ – where ventral nerve rootlets are connected to the spinal cord
d. _______ – anterior spinal artery is distributed inferiorly in this fissure
b. dorsolateral sulci
c. ventrolateral sulci
d. ventral median fissure
(1) Origin – formed from branches of the vertebral arteries
(2) Distribution – distributed inferiorly in the ventral median fissure
Anterior spinal artery (generally, there is one artery)
(1) Origin – formed from branches of the vertebral arteries
(2) Distribution – lies dorsal to the dorsal roots of the spinal nerves
Posterior spinal arteries (generally, there are 2 arteries)
These are arterial branches which enter along the anterior and posterior nerve roots, and supply these roots, the anterior and posterior spinal arteries, and the spinal cord with blood. These arteries originate from the spinal branches of arteries associated with specific areas of the spinal cord.
Radicular arteries
a. Similar to the arterial distribution.
b. Usual pattern: 3 anterior spinal veins and 3 posterior spinal veins
c. Spinal veins drain into radicular veins.
Venous Supply
3 membranes which surround the C.N.S. and the proximal portion P.N.S.
Meninges
Name the three meninges
dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater
a. outermost meninge
b. separated from the bone surrounding the vertebral foramina by the epidural space (This space contains fat and the internal vertebral venous plexus, and superiorly it ends in the vicinity of the foramen magnum).
c. Dural sac
1) It is a sheath of dura within the vertebral canal.
2) Spinal nerves pierce the dural sac.
3) The dural sac ends at S2. It is then anchored by the * filum of the dura mater to the coccyx.
d. Spinal dura is present in the intervertebral foramina and along the nerve roots distal to the dorsal root ganglia. It ends by blending distally to the spinal nerve’s epineurium (the connective tissue that covers a peripheral nerve).
Dura mater
a. Internally, it lines the dural sac and the sleeves of the dural roots.
b. It is separated from the dura mater by the subdural space.
c. It is separated from the inner most meninge (pia mater) by the subarachnoid space (This space is filled with cerebrospinal fluid [CSF]).
d. Inferiorly, the arachnoid layer ends at vertebral level S2 (at the end of the dural sac).
e. The subarachnoid space from L2-S2 is known as the lumbar cistern. It contains the cauda equina, CSF, and it is the usual location for a lumbar puncture.
Arachnoid
a. It is the innermost meninge; it ends when the spinal cord ends between
L1 and L2; (an extension of it is “e.” in the notes below)
b. It extends laterally over the spinal nerve rootlets and roots.
c. On the spinal cord, the pia mater covers the spinal blood vessels.
d. Denticulate ligaments - lateral extensions of pia mater between the spinal nerve roots; these extensions are between the spinal cord and the dural sac, and help to suspend and stabilize the spinal cord.
e. * Filum terminale – an extension of pia mater from the spinal cord’s conus medullaris to the coccyx.
Pia mater
Filum terminale of pia mater blends with filum of dura mater to form the ______.
coccygeal ligament
the articulation between the rib tubercle and the transverse process of corresponding vertebrae.
Costotransverse
the articulation between the head of the rib and the costal facets of the vertebral bodies.
Costovertebral
