Spine and ribs Flashcards
How many bones are there in the vertebral column
33, 24 remain separate for flexibility
How many cervical vertebrae are there
7
How many thoracic vertebrae are there
12
How many lumbar vertebrae are there
5
What do the 5 sacral vertebrae form in adults
Sacrum
What are the three main functions of the vertebral column
Bear weight
anchor for muscles and ligaments
protect spinal cord
What are the 2 main concave curves
cervical and lumbar
What are the two main convex curves
thoracic and sacral
What are the 4 main curves in the spine
Cervical
lumbar
thoracic
sacral
What are the two kinds of supporting elements
Ligaments
Intervertebral discs
What are the major 2 ligaments
Anterior longitudinal
Posterior longitudinal
What is the name of the thinner ligament
posterior longitudinal
What ligament is only attached to discs
Posterior longitudinal
What ligament prevents hyperextension
Anterior longitudinal
What ligament prevents hyperflexion
Posterior longitudinal
What is the main purpose of the intervertebral discs
Cushions/Absorbs shock between vertebral bones
What are the two parts of intervertebral discs
Nucleus pulposus
Annulus fibrosus
What is the nucleus pulposus
the center of intervertebral discs
What is the function of the nucleus pulposus
elasticity and compressibility
Where is the annulus fibrosis
Surrounding the nucleus pulposus on intervertebral discs
What are the functions of the annulus fibrosis (2)
Resists tension
Holds together successive vertebrae
What is the annulus fibrosis made of (2)
fibrocartilage and collagen
Where are the intervertebral discs the thickest and why
Sacral regions (at the bottom of the spine)
Bears the most weight, lots of bending etc
Vertebral foramen: where, why and what
massive hole enclosed by the body and arch of the vertebrae
allows spinal cord to pass through
Vertebral arch consists of 2____ and 2______
2 pedicles that form the sides of the arch
2 laminae that are the fused flat plates
What are the two processes on vertebrae that project laterally and are used for muscle attachment
Transverse processes
What is the process that projects posteriorly and used for muscle attachment
Spinous process
How many processes does a vertebrae have
7
What are the 7 vertebral processes?
2 transverse
1 spinous
2 superior articular processes
2 inferior articular processes
What is the purpose of the inferior and superior articular processes
Link the vertebrae above and below one another
What are the two weird cervical vertebrae? Their names?
C1 - atlas
C2 - axis
What is the shape of the body of the cervical vertebrae
Oval
What kind of vertebrae has a short spinous process
Cervical
What kind of vertebrae has spinous processes that split at the end, whats the exception
cervical
C7
What kind of vertebrae has a LARGE vertebral foramen
Cervical
What is the transverse foramen, where, and why
Hole in the transverse processes of cervical vertebrae and for vertebral artery and vein
What is special about the body of the atlas
Has no body or spinous process
What do the superior facets of the atlas articulate with
occipital condyles
The atlas vertebra has lateral masses with what on them?
Superior and inferior articular facets
Foramen
large hole or opening in bone
What is the odontoid process; function and location
found on the axis
Used to attach to the atlas to allow it to pivot
What kind of vertebrae articulate with the ribs
Thoracic
Describe the body of thoracic vertebrae; shape and additional features
Heart shaped
Has facets for rib articulation
What vertebrae has a circular vertebral foramen
Thoracic
What kind of vertebrae has a long spinous process that points down
Thoracic
What thoracic vertebrae has facets on its transverse processes and why
T1-T10
To articulate with the tubercles of ribs
Describe the shape of lumbar vertebrae bodies
Kidney shaped
What kind of vertebrae has shorter and thicker pedicles and laminae
Lumbar
What kind of vertebrae have spinous process that point directly back
Lumbar
What kind of vertebrae has a triangular vertebral foramen
Lumbar
What feature prevents rotation in the lumbar vertebrae
The superior facets face inwards, and inferior facets face outwards
What do facets do?
Articulate with stuff
How many vertebrae does the sacrum start as
5
What does the sacrum articulate with (3)
L5
Coccyx
hip bones
What is the name of the joint between the hip bones and the sacrum
sacroiliac joint
What is the function of the coccygeal vertebrae
Form the coccyx, the attachment site for some pelvic muscles
What are the four components of the thoracic cage
thoracic vertebrae
Ribs
Sternum
costal cartilage
What are the three functions of the thoracic cage
cage for heart lungs and BV
supports shoulders and upper limbs
attachment site for chest, back and shoulder muscles
What are the three bones that make up the sternum
Manubrium
Body
Xiphoid process
What does the manubrium articulate with
Clavicles
The body of the sternum has notches to articulate with what ribs
2-7
What is the function of the xiphoid process
site of attachment for some abdominal muscles
What are the three big landmarks of the sternum
Jugular notch
Sternal angle
Xiphisternal joint
What is the sternum landmark you can feel on your chest
Jugular notch
where is the jugular notch
in line with the disc between T2 and T3
The sternal angle is a hitch between what
The manubrium and body of sternum
What is the sternal angle made of
Cartilage
What is the function of the xiphisternal joint
fusion between the sternal body and xiphoid process
Where is the sternal angle in regards to vertebrae
in line with the disc between T4 and T5
Where is the xiphisternal joint
Opposite T9
How do the true ribs attach to the sternum
Via costal cartilages
What is another name for the true ribs
Vertebrosternal
Whats another name for false ribs
Vertebrochondral
What are the false ribs
8-10
What do we call the two ribs not attached to sternum at all
Floating ribs
What are the three components of ribs
Shaft
Head
Tubercle
What is the main part of the rib
The shaft
What is the costal groove and its function
the inner surface of the inferior border of the body of the rib
it accommodates the intercostal neurovascular bundle
How many facets does the head of ribs have
2
What do the two facets of the rib head articulate with
1 with the demi facet on the same numbered vertebrae
1 with the demi facet on the vertebrae above it
