Spine II Flashcards
Describe the general cervical vertebra - 4 points
C1-C7, bodies are smaller than all other vertebra other than those that make up the coccyx, vertebral arches are larger, C3-C6 follow the typical structural pattern of a cervical vertebra, all have 3 formina - 1 vertebral foramen (largest than in all vertebrae to house the cervical enlargement of the spinal cord) and 2 transverse foramina (within the transverse process containing vertebral artery, vein and nerve fibres)
bifid
C2-C6 often have a bifid spinous process meaning its split into 2
Describe C1 - the atlas - 4 points
1st cervical vertebrae and so is inferior to the skull, its a ring of bone with anterior and posterior arches and large lateral masses (lacks body and spinous process), the transverse processes/foramina of the atlas = quite large
Describe the superior articular facets of C1
concave superior surfaces of the lateral masses - articulate with occipital condyles of occipital bone forming the atlanto-occipital joints allowing you to nod “yes”
Describe the inferior articular facets of C1
lie on the inferior surface of C1 and articulate with C2
Describe C2 - the axis -
does have a body, it also has a peg-like process called either dens/odontoid process which protects superiorly though the anterior portion of the vertebral foramen of the atlas, the peg is a pivot on which the atlas and the head rotate , allow you to shake head “no”
Describe the articulations of C2 and the spinous process of C2
articulation formed between the anterior arch of the atlas and dens of the axis is and between their articular facets of is known as the atlanto-axial joint
Describe the thoracic vertebrae - 4 points
larger/stronger/longer/larger transverse processes than cervical, unlike any other vertebrae it articulates with the ribs, all the transverse processes have for facets for articulating with the tubercles of the ribs (except for T11/T12) - known as the vertebrocostal joints - limits movements of thoracic region because the ribs are attached to the sternum
Describe the difference in spinous processes from T1/T2 to T11/T12
Spinous process on T1/T2 = long, laterally flattened, directed inferiorly, spinous processes on T11/T12 = shorter, broader, directed more posteriorly
Describe the lumbar vertebrae - 3 points
lumbar vertebrae L1-L5 are the largest & strongest of the unfused bones in the vertebrae column, the various projections are short and thick, amount of body weight supported by vertebrae increases towards inferior end hence these carry a lot of the bodys weight
Describe the directions of the articular processes
superior articular process = directed medially
inferior articular process = directed laterally
Describe the spinous processes and their function - 4 points
quadrilateral in shape, thick & broad, project nearly straight posteriorly, serve as attachment for large back muscles
Describe the sacrum
triangular bone formed by union of 5 sacral vertebrae (S1-S5), lies at posterior aspect of pelvic cavity, medial to the 2 hip bones
Describe the differences of a female sacrum to a male sacrum
female sacrum = shorter/wider/more curved
Apex of the sacrum
narrow, inferior portion
Base of the sacrum
broad, superior portion
Describe the concave anterior side of the sacrum
faces pelvic cavity, smooth, contains 4 transverse lines (ridges) where the sacral vertebral bodies join
Describe the sacral foramina and the sacral canal
has anterior and posterior sacral foramina allow the passage of nerves and blood vessels, sacral canal is a continuation of the vertebral cavity
Sacaral Promontory
anteriorly projecting border of the base of the sacrum, 1 of the points used to measure the pelvis
Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ) - 2 points
on both lateral surfaces, sacrum has a large ear-shaped articular surface that articulates with the ilium of each hip bone
Lumbosacral Joint - 2 points
the superior articular process of the sacrum articulates with the inferior articular process of the 5th lumbar vertebrae, and the base of the sacrum articulates with the body of the 5th lumbar vertebrae
Describe the coccyx - description, articulations, differences between males/females - 4 points
triangular, formed by fusion of 4 coccygeal vertebrae, articulates superiorly with the apex of the sacrum, in females = points inferiorly to allow passage of baby during birth, in males = points anteriorly
