The Spine and Spinal Structures Flashcards
How many vertebrae are there?
33
How many vertebrae are fused?
9
What percentage of the spine is made up from intervertebral discs?
Approx 25%
Anteriorly which spinal regions are convex in shape?
Cervical and lumbar regions
Anteriorly which spinal regions are concave in shape?
Thoracic and sacral regions
How many vertebrae are contained within the cervical part of the spine?
7
How many vertebrae are contained within the thoracic part of the spine?
12
How many vertebrae are contained within the lumbar part of the spine?
5
How many vertebrae are contained within the sacral part of the spine?
5
Which ribs are “floating ribs” and do not articulate with the costal cartilage?
The lower two ribs (11th and 12th)
What is the coccyx also known as and how many vertebrae does it contain?
The tailbone containing 4 fused vertebrae
What is the first cervical vertebra known as?
Atlas
What is the second cervical vertebra known as?
Axis
What movement is permitted between the cranium and the top of the cervical spine?
Rotation
Which part of the spine permits lateral flexion?
Lumbar
Which part of the spine permits rotation?
Thoracic
How many pairs of ribs are there?
12
How many ribs connect directly to the sternum?
Upper 7
What type of joint connects the ribs to the thoracic vertebrae?
Cartilaginous
Which regions of the spine contain intervertebral discs?
Cervical, thoracic and lumbar
What are the two primary functions of the intervertibral discs?
To assist in movement between adjacent vertebrae and load transference from one vertebra to another
What are the two components of an intervertebral disc?
Nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus
What is an end plate in the spine?
A deformable plate of cartilage on the upper and lower surfaces of the vertebra
How many degrees of motion does an intervertebral disc permit?
6 degrees
What is another name for a herniated disc?
A slipped disc
How many processes does each vertebra have?
7
What is contained within the vertebral foramen?
Spinal cord, fat, connective tissue and blood vessels
Where is the neural arch?
Posterior to the vertebral body surrounding the vertebral foramen
What is the function of pedicles?
They allow nerves and blood vessels to leave the vertebral canal in-between each disc
Are the spinal ligaments more or less flexible than normal ligaments?
More flexible
How do spinal ligaments limit movement?
By increasing their tension as the range of extension or flexion increases
