Term 2 Exam: Chapter 7 Axial Vertebrae Flashcards
What is the vertebral column?
Spine (backbone) -Composed of a series of bones called Vertebrae
What are six key functions of the Vertebral Column?
- Provide vertical support for the body 2. Supports weight of the head 3. Works alongside muscles to maintain upright body position 4. Helps transfer axial skeletal weight to the appendicular skeleton of the lower limbs 5. Houses and protects the spinal cord 6. Provides passageway fro spinal nerves connecting to the spinal cord
How many vertebrae does a typical adult have?
26
How are the 26 vertebrae divided in the Vertebral Column/
7 cervical vertebrae in the neck region; 12 thoracic vertebrae in the chest region; 5 lumbar vertebrae in the lower back; 1 sacrum (from 5 fused sacral vertebrae); 1 coccyx (from 4 fused coccygeal vertebrae)
What are normal curves?
When viewed from the side the vertebral column has four slight bends
Relative to the front of the body which curves are convex )( and which are concave()?
Cervical and Lumbar curves are convex; Thoracic and Sacral curves are concave
What are intervertebral discs?(3)
-Found between the bodies of the adjacent vertebrae -Form strong joints, permit various movements of the vertebral column; -Absorb vertical shock
What is the anatomy of intervertebral discs?
Each disc has an outer fibrous ring consisting of fibrocartilage called the Annulus Fibrosus and an inner soft, pulpy mucoid substance called nucleus pulposa
- the superior and inferior surfaces of the disc consist of a thin plate of hyaline cartilage
What are the three structures of a typical vertebrae?
- Body
- vertebral arch
- 7 processes
What is the Vertebral Body? (3)
- Large, Block-Like
- Separated by intervertebral discs
- Weight-bearing structure.
What is the Vertebral Arch? (3)
- Together with the vertebral body it surrounds and protects the spinal cord
- Has pedicles that form the Lateral walls
- Has Laminae that form the Posterior Walls
What are the seven processes of a typical Vertebrae
- 2x Transverse processes
- 1x Spinous process
- 2x superior articular processes
- 2x inferior articular processes
Where are the two transverse processes anotomically?
Each transverse process extends laterally from where a lamina and pedicle join
Where is the spinous process anatomically?
The spinous process projects posteriorly at the junction of the laminae
What is anatomically significant of the two superior articular processes?
the two superior articular processes of a vertebrae articulate (form joints) with the two inferior articular processes of the vertebra immidiately superior to them
What is anatomically significant about the two inferior articular processes?
The two inferior articular processes of the vertebra articulate with the two superior articular processes of the vertebra immediately inferior to them
The articular processes typically arise near_______?
the junction of the pedicle and lamina
Label the Diagram:
Explain how the vertebral column is formed.
the superior articular processes of a vertebra form a joint with the inferior articular processes of the vertebra immediately superior (above) and, in turn, the inferior articular processes of the same vertebra form a joint with the two superior articular processes of the vertebrae immediately inferior to them
What is unique about the cervical vertebrae?
Cervical vertebrae are the only vertebrae to have a transverse foramen within the transverse process through which a vertebral artery and its accompanying vein and nerve fibers pass
What are (2) surface features of Cervical Vertebrae?
- All cervical vertebrae have three foramina
- One Vertebral Foramen - largest because it houses the the cervical enlargement of the spinal cord
- Two transverse foramina
- Spinous processes of C2 and C6 are often bifid (their tips branch into two small projections)
What is C1 called? How does it differ from other vertebra? (2)
Atlas
- Is a bony ring with no body
- articulates with the head to permit movement of the head-nod (yes)
Examine the image comparing Atlas to other cervical vertebrae:
What is C2 called? How does it differ from typical vertebra?
The Axis
-Has a peg-like dens process that articulates with C1 to permit movement of a head-shake (No)
C3 to C6 share common features of the cervical vertebrae, what are they? (4)
- A spinous process
- 2 Transverse processes
- 2 superior articular processes
- 2 inferior articular processes
What is different about C7? What is the name of C7?
Vertebra Prominens
-has a non-bifid, large spinous process that can be seen and felt at the base of the neck
How do thoracic vertebrae differ from cervical vertebrae?
Thoracic vertebrae are considerably larger and stronger than cervical vertebrae
What are the costal facets of the thoracic vertebrae?
Costal facets articulate with the tubercles of ribs
How do thoracic vertebrae form joints with ribs? Which vertebrae are excluded?
Bodies of thoracic vertebrae articulate with the heads of ribs
T11 and T12 are excluded
What are four characteristics of the Lumbar Vertebrae?
- Largest and strongest of the unfused vertebrae in the vertebral column
- Readily identifiable by their large size - large block like body with kidney-shaped articular surfaces
- Absence of costal articular facets
- Lack of transverse foramen
Complete the table
What is the Sacrum?
Label the Image
Fusion of 5 sacral vertebrae to form one sacrum
- fusion can last from age 16 to 30 years
- Transverse lines mark the sites of fusion
What is the Coccyx?
- Triangular Bone from the Fusion of 3-5 vertebral bones
- As with sacrum formation, coccygeal vertebral fusion lasts a few years, usually between ages 20-30 years
