Spine and Pelvic Girdle Flashcards
What type of cartilage covers the superior and inferior surfaces of the vertebral body?
Hyaline Cartilage
What is the function of the Vertebral Body?
Support body weight; give strength to the vertebral column
What type of bone makes up the vertebral body?
Vascular, trabecular bone
What is the first part of the vertebrae to ossify?
Pedicle
In what orientation does the pedicle ossify?
medial to lateral
What is the function of the pedicle?
Joins laminae to the vertebral body
What direction does the transverse process project?
Posterolaterally
What effect does the transverse process have?
Increases surface area for attachment of muscles that control the vertebrae
What direction does the Spinous Process project?
Posteriorly
Function of Spinous Process
Muscle attachment, mobility, and movement
What structure aligns the vertebrae?
Zygapophysis
Function of zygapophysis
movement restriction; prevents slipping of vertebra anteriorly
What is the most important element of the posterior elements of the vertebrae?
Pars Interarticularis
What makes up the vertebral foramen?
Vertebral arch + Posterior surface of vertebrae
Function of Vertebral Foramen
Passage of Spinal Cord
What makes up the intervertebral foramen?
Superior and Inferior vertebral Notches of adjacent vertebrae
What is the most distinctive feature of cervical vertebrae?
Transverse Foramen
What passes through the Transverse Foramen?
Vertebral arteries (except C7)
What influences the flexibility and shock absorption characteristic of vertebrae?
IV Discs
What influences the articulation, stability, and mobility of vertebrae?
Facet Joints
Configuration of Facet Joints
Angle/Direction of Facet Joints
What are the three atypical cervical vertebrae?
Atlas (C1), Axis (C2), C7
Which vertebrae have costal facets?
Thoracic vertebrae
What is the function of the costal facets?
Articulation with ribs
How do costal facets affect movement?
Enhances stiffness of flexion, lateral bending, and axial rotation by 35%
Enhances stiffness of extension by 130%
What is the least moveable vertebrae in the spine?
Thoracic vertebrae
Which thoracic vertebra is atypical?
T1, similar spinous process like C7
Which lumbar vertebrae have mammillary processes?
T9-T12
What is the most fractured vertebra?
T12
Which vertebrae have both accessory processes and mammillary processes?
Lumbar vertebrae
What attaches to the accessory process?
Intertransversarii muscles
What attaches to the mammillary process?
Multifidus and Interransversarii muscles
What is the largest, moveable vertebra?
L5
How do the facets effect movement of the lumbar vertebrae?
Directed 90 degrees; facilitates flexion and extension but limits rotation
What is the sacral canal?
continuation of vertebral canal; contains bundle of spinal root nerves from the cauda equine (L1 vertebra)
What are the sacral foramina?
Exit of posterior and anterior rami of spinal nerves
What is an important obstetrical landmark in the sacrum?
Sacral Promontory
The coccyx is a fusion of…
Four rudimentary coccygeal vertebrae
Which is the largest and broadest of coccygeal vertebra?
Co1
What does the coccygeal cornua articulate with?
Sacral Cornua
What muscles attach to the coccyx?
Gluteaus Maximus, Coccygeus muscles, Pubococcygeus Muscles
What two regions exhibit Lordosis? Kyphosis?
Lordosis: Cervical, Lumbar
Kyphosis: Thoracic Sacral
Inside the womb, the primary curvature of the spine is
Kyphosis
After birth, what kind of curvature is developed?
Secondary; Cervical Lordosis
As a baby, what curvature is developed?
Second secondary; Lumbar Lordosis
One’s center of gravity is in front of…
S2
Cervical Spinal Facets are directed and allow what motion?
Directed 45 degrees; multidirectional and can slide over and under
Thoracic Spinal Facets are directed and allow what motion?
Directed 60 degrees; Can flex, rotate and laterally bend
Limited extension; limited by thoracic rib cage in T4-9
Lumbar Spinal Facets are directed and allow what motion?
Directed 90 degrees; can allow flexion and extension
Limited rotation and lateral bending
The narrowest/smallest segment of the spinal cord:
T4-T9
What is the strongest cervical vertebrae?
Axis
Which vertebra contains the Vertebra Prominens?
C7
The spine has the strongest stress resistance to what kind of stress?
Compression
