Regional Characteristics of Vertebrae

Question 1

Cervical Region Charctreristics

Answer 1

Spinous Process: Short, Bifid (function:increases surface area for attachment)
Transverse Process: Rounded, contains transverse foramen (function: vertebral artery)
body: small, oval shaped
Articular facets: Oblique- allows movement in all planes

Question 2

Thoracic Region Characteristics

Answer 2

• Body: Heart Shaped
• Spinous Process: Long, projects posteroinferiorly (function limits extension)
• Transverse process: costal facets for rib attachment
  -Articular Faites: coronal orientation, limits flexion, allows rotation

Question 3

Lumbar Region Characteristics

Answer 3

-Body: Large, kidney shaped
- Spinous Process: large, hatched shaped
Articular facets: saggial- flex. ext.
transverse process: long, skinny

Question 4

Sacrum

Answer 4

• Body:Fused body,
  Size decreases inferiorly
• Spinous Process:Fused, median sacral crest
• Transverse Process:Fused and enlarged- to create lateral sacral crest
• articular facets: arge, Fused together ‘bumps’