spine Flashcards
spinal levels
- cervical - 7
- thoracic - 12
- lumbar - 5
- sacrum- 5 fused
- coccyx - 3-4 fused
features of the vertebrae
- vertebrae body
- transverse process
- neural arch
- spinous process
- lamina
- pedicle
- vertebral foramen
- articular process
types of joints between vertebrae
- zygapophysial
- intervertebral - synovial joint
what are the two parts of the intervertebral discs
- anulus fibrosus - the outer ring of tough cartilage
- nucleus pulposus - the soft centre
where do the spinal nerves emerge from the vertebral canal
intervertebral foramen
what are the core ligaments of the vertebral column
- posterior longitudinal ligament
- supraspinous ligament
- interspinous ligament
- anterior longitudinal ligament
what matter surrounds the spinal cord
- pia mater
- subarachnoid space
- arachnoid mater
- dura mater
what is the function of the vertebral column
- protection
- support
- axis
- movement
what cartilage is found in the vertebral body
hyaline cartilage
what position is the vertebral arch in relation to the vertebral body
lateral and posterior
what do the pedicles do
connect the vertebral body to the transverse process
what does the lamina do
connect the transverse and spinous processes
what are the distinguishing features of cervical vertebrae
- bifid spinous process
- transverse foramina
- triangular vertebral foramen
what is the function of the transverse foramina
where the vertebral arteries travel through to the brain
what is the orientation of the spinous process of thoracic vertebrae
obliquely, inferiorly and posteriorly
what does the lumbar vertebrae look like
- large vertebral bodies
- no transverse foramina, costal facets or bifid spinous processes
- they have triangular shaped vertebral foramen
sacrum
- 5 fused vertebrae
- the lateral wall of the sacrum has faucets for articulation with the pelvis at the sacroiliac joints
coccyx
- small bone that articulates with the apex of the sacrum
- lack of vertebral arches
articulation between the vertebral bodies
- left and right superior articular facets articulate with the vertebra above
- left and right inferior articular facets articulate with the vertebra below
- vertebral bodies have indirect articulation with each other via intervertebral discs
what are the ligaments that strengthen the vertebral bodies
anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments
- anterior = prevents hyperextension
- posterior = prevents hyperflexion
what ligaments strengthen the articular facets
- ligamentum flavum
- interspinous and supraspinous
- intertransverse ligaments
where does the spinal cord end
- at L2 vertebral level- forming the conus medullaris
- spinal cord bundles together forming the cauda equina
main areas of the spinal cord
- medulla oblongata
- cervical enlargement
- lumbar enlargement
- conus medullaris
- filum terminale
what are the spinal meninges
- three membranes that surround the spinal cord
- the dura matter, arachnoid mater, pia mater
the dura mater
- most external of the meninges
- extends from foramen magnum to the filum terminale
- the dura matter surrounds the nerve root and fuses with the outer connective tissue covering of the nerve
the arachnoid mater
- between the dura and the pia mater
- separated from the latter by the subarachnoid space
the pia mater
- innermost of the meninges
- thin membrane that covers the spinal cord, nerve roots and their blood vessels
- inferiorly it fuses with the filum terminale
how does a spinal nerve leave the spinal column
- via the intervertebral foramina and then dividing in 2
- posterior rami
- anterior rami
posterior rami
- supplies nerve fibres to the synovial joints of the vertebral column , deep muscle of the back, and the overlying skin
anterior rami
- supplies nerve fibres to much of the remaining area of the body
- both motor and sensory
what is the arterial supply of the spinal cord
- anterior spinal artery
- posterior spinal arteries
- additional: anterior and posterior segmental medullary arteries
what is the venous drainage of the spinal cord
- three anterior and three posterior spinal veins
- these drain into the internal and external vertebral plexuses
what are the four main columns of the spinal cord grey matter
- dorsal horn
- ventral horn
- intermediate column
- lateral horn
what does the white matter contain in the spinal cord
the ascending and descending pathways that connect the brain to the spinal cord
