the spine Flashcards
how many vertebrae compose the vertebral column?
32-34
how many cervical vertebrae are there
7
how many thoracic vertebrae are there
12
how many lumbar vertebrae are there
5
how are the vertebrae in the sacrum and how many are there
they are fused and there are 5
what is the trick to remember the # of vertebrae
breakfast at 7, lunch at 12, supper at 5
how is the spine curved?
-convex (2), concave (1), convex (2), concave (1)
at what moment do secondary curvatures mature?
throughout early life growth and development
how is the spinal column of a feutus?
totally concave anteriorly
how is the lumbar region of a newborn?
it has begun to convex anterioly
what is scoliosis?
curvature of the spine
what is kyphosis
excessive curvature in the upper thoracic region
what is lordosis
excessive curvature in the lumbar region
which vertebrae has a bifid spinous process?
cervical
which vertebrae has a short & wide spinous process?
lumbar vertebrae
what is the function of the facets on the thoracic vertebrae?
they are there for the ribs
how many foramen are their in the cervical vertebrae? what are their names?
what is their function?
1x the large vertebral foramen
2x traverse foramina –> in these the vertebral artery can be seen to pass though it.
what is the correcponding name of the C2 vertebrae?
axis
what is the location of the Atlas?
C1
on what cervical vertebrae can the Dens be found?
what is its main functions?
C2 (axis) it enables C2 to articulate with C1
what does the atlas lack? what does it have instead?
it lacks a vertebral body & spinous process
it has both a posterior & anterior arch that connects to lateral masses
in the cervical vertebrae where are the pedicles located?
the pedicles attach the vertebral bodies
what do the paired lamina join to form in the cervical vertebrae?
pair to form the spinous process
what do the posterior and anterior foramina allow to pass through?
passage of spinal nerve branches
what is the name of the joint between C1-C2
atlanto-axial joint
what type of joint is the atlanto-axial joint?
synovial
what is included in the alanto-axial joint?
3 articulations;
one median articulation between the dens & anterior arch and 2 lateral articulations between the articular processes.
what joint favours the movement of “no” through rotation of the head
the atlanto-axial joint
what does the altanto-occipital joint join together?
joins the atlas to the skull
what movement is promoted by the atlanto-occipital joint?
flexion and extension mimicing “yes”
what type of joint is the atlanto-occipital joint?
synovial joint
what part of the atlas and the skull articulate together?
superior articular facets with the occipital condyles.
where does the intervertebral joints form?
between intervertebral (IV) disks and the articular surfaces of vertebral bodies
are there intervertebral disks at C1 & C2?
no
what is the main function of the disks & how are they composed?
-act as shock absorbers
-outer fibrous ring: annulus fibrosis
-gelatinous core: nucleus pulpsus
what is the trick to remember the planes of each spinal region relative to their apophyseal joints?
-raise the roof - cervical
-chest pump - thoracic
-clap - lumbar
what are the movements favoured between the cervical & lumbar spine?
flexion & extension
lateral flexion & extension
what are the movements favoured between the cervical & thoracic spine?
rotation of the neck and head
rotation of the upper trunk
what is the main function of vertebral ligaments?
they support the joints of the vertebral colulmn
what does the alar ligament do?
secures dens of C2 to the skull
what does the transverse ligament do?
it secures the dens against the anterior arch of the atlas.
what are the 2 longitudinal ligaments & what do they join?
-anterior longitudinal ligament
-posterior longitudinal ligament
-they join all of the vertebral bodies
what does the anterior longitudinal ligament prevent?
-prevents hyperextension of the neck
what does the anterior longitudinal ligament look like in comparaison to the posterior longitudinal ligament
Anterior longitudinal ligament is a broad fibrous ligament ranging from occipital bone to the sacrum whereas the posterior longitudinal ligament is a thin fibrous ligament ranging from C2 to the sacrum
what does the anterior longitudinal ligament look like in comparaison to the posterior longitudinal ligament
Anterior longitudinal ligament is a broad fibrous ligament ranging from occipital bone to the sacrum whereas the posterior longitudinal ligament is a thin fibrous ligament ranging from C2 to the sacrum
what does the posterior longitudinal ligament mainly attach to and what movement does it prevent?
it attaches mainly to the intervertebral dis IV and mainly prevents hyper flexion
what ligament assists in limiting the flexion of the spine?
(SIN)
Supraspinous ligament
ligamentum of nuchae
Interspinous ligament
what does the supraspinous ligament connect?
the posterior ridge of the spinous processes
what is the ligamentum nuchae and extension of? and ranges along what?
its an extension of the supraspinous ligament and extends from the skull to C7
what is the role of the ligamentum flavum?
limits flexion of the spine
how does ligamentum flavum look like?
its a pair of ligaments that join the laminae of adjacent vertebrae on the posterior wall of the vertebral canal
what ligaments assists in limiting contralateral, lateral flexion of the spine?
intertransverse ligaments
what may hyperextension of the neck result in?
facture of the dens of the axis.
