The Spine Flashcards
how many vertebrae are there?
33
what are the 5 sections of the vertebrae?
7 cervical 12 thoracic 5 lumbar 5 sacral (fused) 4 coccygeal (fused)
atypical vertebrae
C1 atlas
C2 axis
allow head rotation
what type of joints are the intervertebral discs
secondary cartilaginous joints
structure of the intervertebral discs
outer annulus fibrosis
inner gelatinous nucleus pulposis
what are the other joints in the vertebrae
facet joints
what type of joints are facet joints?
synovial
what movement do facet joints facilitate?
flexion
extension
passage of the spinal cord
down the spinal canal formed by the vertebral foramina
where does the spinal cord end?
L1
where does it become the cauda equina?
L2 down
which nerves are usually compressed in a disc prolapse
transversing nerve root
ligaments of the spine role
contribute to stability
examples of spine ligaments
anterior longitudinal posterior longitudinal supraspinous inferspinous ligamentum favum
chance fracture
vertebral fracture due to excessive flexion, very unstable
