Summary of Vertebral Function

Question 1

Body

Answer 1

Resists compressive forces.

Transmits compressive forces to vertebral endplates.

Question 2

Pedicles

Answer 2

Transmit bending forces (exerted by muscles attached to the spinous and transverse processes) to the vertebral bodies.

Question 3

Laminae

Answer 3

Resist and transmit forces (that are transmitted from spinous and zygapophyseal articular processes) to pedicles.
Serve as attachment sites for muscles and ligaments.

Question 4

Transverse processes

Answer 4

Serve as attachment sites for muscles and ligaments.

Question 5

Spinous processes

Answer 5

Resist compression and transmit forces to laminae.

Serve as attachment sites for ligaments and muscles.

Question 6

Zygapophyseal facets

Answer 6

Resist shear, compression, tensile and torsional forces.

Transmit forces to laminae.

Question 7

Nucleus pulposus

Answer 7

Resists compression forces to vertebral endplates and translates vertical compression forces into circumferential tensile forces in annulus fibrosus.

Question 8

Annulus fibrosus

Answer 8

Resists tensile, torsional, and shear forces.