the vertebral colulm 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 vertebraes in the sacrum and how many are there?
they are fused and there are 5
how are the vertebrae in the coccyx and how many are there?
they are fused and amount will vary between 3-5
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 be convex anteriorly
What is cervical Kyphosis?
instead of having the cervical region concave it is reversed and is convex
What is thoracic Kyphosis?
the thoracic region is much to concave
what is lumbar lordosis?
the lumbar region is much to convexe
what type of test can be used to determine scoliosis?
forward bending test
what is scoliosis?
curvature of the spine.
which vertebrae has a bifid spinous process?
Cervical
What is the main function of uncinate processes?
on which vertebrae can it be found?
it limits lateral flexion of the cervical spine.
it can be found ranging from C3-C7
which vertebrae has a short & wide spinous process?
Lumbar vertebrae
what is the function of the facets on the thoracic vertebrae?
they are specially there for the ribs
how many foramen are their in the cervical vertebrae? what are their names?
what is their function?
3.
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?
they pair to form the spinous process
how is C7 different than the other cervical vertebrae?
-long, palpable spinous process
what is the sacral canal
continuation of vertebral canals that open up at the sacral hiatus.
what do the posterior and anterior foramina allow to pass through?
passage of spinal nerve branches
what is the sacral Ala?
it is the “wings” of the sacrum
where is the sacral promontory located?
at the superior end of the sacral, it ressembles a large, flat facet.
what is the name of the joint between C1-C2
the atlanto-axial Joint
what type of joint is the atlanto-axial joint?
-synovial joint
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?
it joins the atlas to the skull.
what movement is promoted by the atlanto-occipital joint?
flexion & 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.
what are the 3 ligaments found int e Atlanto-Axial Joint?
what is their function?
-2x alar ligament
-1x transverse ligament
it allows for stability of that joint, and limits rotational movements.
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 are the 4 stages of disc herniation?
degeneration
protrusion
extrusion
sequestration
what are the different types of herniations?
- central
- posterolateral
what determines the level of mobility of the vertebral colulmn?
the height of the intervertebral disc.
greatest mobility in cervical and lumbar region
what determines the level of mobility of the vertebral column?
the height of the intervertebral disc.
greatest mobility in cervical and lumbar region
unconvertebral joint forms between what?
they form between uncinate processes of the C3-C7 vertebrae
what type of joint is the unconvertebral joint?
synovial joint
what are zygaphophyseal joints also known as?
facet joints
what type of joint is the zygaphophyseal joint?
synovial joint
what does the zygaphophyseal joints join?
they join the superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae
how are these joints oriented in each vertebral region?
- cervical spine
- thoracic spine
- lumbar spine
- transverse/horizontal (allows movement in the majority of directions)
- coronal/frontal plane (movements are restricted to lateral flexion
- sagital plane facilitates flexion & extension
what is the trick to remember the planes of each spinal region relative to their zygaphophyseal joints?
- raise the roof
- chest pump
- clap
what causes for disc herniation?
decline of the elasticity of the anulus fibrosus causing for the nucleus propulus to protude out. this protrusion will cause forcompression of the contents of the dural sac or the spinal nerve causing pain.
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?
it secures the 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 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?
Supraspinous ligament
ligamentum of nuchae
Interspinous ligament
what does the supraspinous ligament connect?
the posterior ridge of the SPs
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
whipslpash injuries often lead to what type of movement of the neck?
hyperextension of the neck (excessive backwards movement of the neck)
what may hyperextension of the neck result in?
facture of the dens of the axis.
