Spine Flashcards
How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
31
Which root does sensory information go through?
Dorsal
Where do the pairs of nerves lie?
either side of the vertebral column
How many cervical nerves are there?
8 pairs
How many pairs of thoracic nerves are there?
12
How many pairs of lumbar nerves are there?
5
How many pairs of sacral nerves are there?
5
How many pairs of coccygeal nerves are there?
1
What of the nervous system do the spinal nerves reside in?
peripheral nervous system
Where do the spinal nerves leave the spinal column?
intervertebral foramen between adjacent vertebrae. ALL do this apart from C1 which emerges between the occipital bones and the atlas.
What are vertebrae separated by?
Intervertebral discs
Functions of the vertebral column
protection (of spinal cord), support (weight of body), forming central axis and postures and movement
Briefly describe the structure that all vertebrae share
anterior vertebral body and posterior vertebral arch
What are vertebral bodies used for?
Weightbearing
Describe the superior and inferior aspects of the vertebral bodies
Lined with hyaline cartilage
What is the intervertebral disc made from?
fibrocartilage
What part of the vertebrae does the vertebral arch form?
lateral and posterior aspect
What do the bony processes of the vertebral arch do?
Serve as attachment sites for muscles and ligaments
List some bony processes of the vertebral arch?
Spinous processes, transverse processes, pedicles, lamina and articular processes
Describe transverse processes
each vertebrae has two which extend laterally and posteriorly from the vertebral body
Where do the ribs attach?
To the transverse processes of the thoracic vertebrae
What do pedicles do?
Connect the vertebral body to the transverse processes
What does the vertebral lamina do?
Connect the transverse and the spinal processes
What do articular processes do?
form joints between one vertebrae and its superior and inferior counterparts. The articular processes are located at the intersection of the laminae and pedicles
What are the distinguishing processes of the cervical vertebrae?
bifid spinous process (at distal end), transverse foramina (opening in each ransverse process through which arteries travel to the brain), triangular vertebral foramen
Which cervical vertebrae are exceptions to the general vertebrae in terms of bifid spinous process?
C1 which has no spinous process and C7 which has a spinous process that is longer than that of C2-C6 and may not bifurcate
Why are the atlas and the axis different?
To allow movement of the head
Describe basic features of thoracic vertebrae?
- two demi facets placed superiorly and inferiorly on either side of the vertebral body (articular with heads of two different ribs)
- On the transverse process there is a costal facet which articulates with the shaft of a single rib
Describe the spinous processes of thoracic vertebrae
orientated obliquely inferiorly and posteriorly.
Describe the vertebral foramen of the thoracic vertebrae
Circular
What shape are the vertebral bodies of the lumbar vertebrae?
kidney shaped
Describe the lumbar vertebral bodies
lack characteristic feature of other vertebrae (no transverse foramina, costal facets or bifid spinous process)
Describe the shape of the lumbar vertebral foreamen
triangular