The Vertebral Column Flashcards
vertebral column
central bony pillar of body
33 vertebrae
7 cervical 12 thoracic 5 lumbar 5 sacral (fused to form sacrum) 4 coccygeal (lower 3 fused)
structure of typical vertebra:
body
vertebral arch
body & vertebral arch enclosed in a space called ___
anterior weight-bearing part
posterior part
- two pedicles - form walls of vertebral arch
- two laminae - complete arch posteriorly
vertebral foramen
seven processes that typically arise from vertebral arch
1 spinous process - projects posteriorly from junction of two laminae
2 transverse processes - project laterally from junction of pedicles & laminae
4 articular processes - project superiorly & inferiorly from vertebral arch & articulate w/ corresponding processes of vertebrae above & below
pedicles are notched on ___ & ___ borders
adjacent notches of vertebrae together form ___
allow passage of ___
upper & lower
intervertebral foramina
spinal nerves
cervical vertebrae: definition
smallest of superior 24 moveable vertebrae b/c they bear less weight than larger more inferior vertebrae
allow greatest range & veriety of movement of any of vertebral regions
cervical vertebrae: characteristic features
bifid spinous processes
large vertebral foramina (to accomodate the cervical enlargement of the spinal cord)
transverse processes possess a transverse foramen (for passage of the vertebral artery & veins)
cervical vertebrae: atlas
first cervical vertebra
lacks a body & spinous process
possess anterior & posterior arches
has a lateral mass on each side w/ articular surfaces (above) for atriculation w/ the occipital condyles of the skull & (below) for articulation w/ the axis
cervical vertebrae: axis
second cervical vertebra
dens (odontoid process) projects from the superior surface
represents the body of the atlas that fused during the development w/ the axis
cervical vertebrae: vertebral prominens
seventh cervical vertebra
named b/c it has the longest spinous process of the cervical vertebra
transverse foramen is small (only transmits the vertebral veins)
thoracic vertebrae:
___ for articulation with the ribs:
- on ___ for articulation w/ ___ of ribs
- on ___ for articulation w/ ___ of ribs
- none on T___ on ___
bodies ___ from above downward & are ___-shaped
spines are ___ & ___ downward
vertebral foramen is ___ than in the cervical or lumbar regions
costal facets
sides, heads
transverse, tubercles
11 & 12, transverse
increase, heart
long, inclined
smaller
lumbar vertebrae
bodies are massive & kidney shaped
spines are thick, quadrangular shaped & project posteriorly
large vertebral foramina
sacrum:
consists of ___ vertebrae forming a ___-shaped bone which is ___ anteriorly
the ___ border, or base, articulates w/ the ___ lumbar vertebra, & the ___ border articulates w/ the ___
the anterior & upper margin of the first sacral vertebra bulges forward as the ___
vertebral formaina are present & form the ___
the laminae of the fifth sacral vertebra fail to meet at the midline forming the ___
the ___ & ___ surfaces of the sacrum possess foramina for the passages of the ___ (___) & ___ (___) ___ of the upper four sacral nerves
five fused, wedge, concave
upper, fifth, narrow inferior, coccyx
sacral promontory
sacral canal
sacral hiatus
anterior, posterior, anterior (ventral), posterior (dorsal), rami
coccyx
small triangular bone that’s usually formed from teh fusion of four coccygeal vertebrae
the first coccygeal vertebra may or may not be fused
four curvatures of the adult vertebral column
cervical
thoracic
lumbar
sacral
primary curvatures
developed ___
concave ___
retained throughout life as a consequence of the differences in ___ b/n the anteior & posterior parts of the vertebrae
thoracic & sacral
during fetal development
anteriorly
height
secondary curvatures
develop ___
concave ___
maintained primarily by differences in the ___ of the anterior & posterior parts of the intervertebral discs
cervical curvature becomes prominent when ___
lumbar curvature becomes prominent when ___
cervical & lumbar
after birth & reverse of primary curvatures
posteriorly
thickness
the infant begins to hold his or her head up
an infant assumes the upright position & begins to walk
kyphosis
exaggeration of the thoracic curvature
may result from erosion of the anterior parts of the thoracic vertebrae, compression fractures, etc.
often a consequence of osteoporosis
lordosis
exaggeration of the lumbar curvature
often a consequence of pregnancy
scoliosis
lateral deviation of the vertebral column
may be caused by muscular or vertebral defects
may be idiopathic (unknown cause)
intervertebral discs:
provide ___
thickest in ___
act as ___
no disc b/n ___
most inferior disc lies between ___
strong attachment between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae
the cervical & lumbar regions, where movements of the vertebral column are greatest
shock absorbers when the load on the vertebral column is suddenly increased (e.g. when jumping from a height)
C1 & C2
L5 & S1
intervertebral discs: annulus fibrosus
consists of concentric layers of fibrocartilage which run obliquely from one vertebra to the next
the fibers of one typically run at right angles to those of adjacent ones
intervertebral discs: nucleus pulposus
ovoid mass of gelatinous material containing a large amount of water, small amount of collagen, & a few cartilage cells
situated slightly nearer to the posterior than the anterior margin of the disc
anterior longitudinal ligament
strong, wide fibrous band covering the anterior & lateral sides of the bodies & intervertebral discs
resists hyperextension (only ligament resisting hyperextension)
posterior longitudinal ligament
weaker & narrower than the anterior longitudinal ligament
runs in the vertebral canal along the posterior aspects of the bodies & intervertebral discs
resists hyperflexion & posterior herniation of the intervertebral discs
ligamentum flava
strong & important ligament
composed of yellow elastic tissue running b/n adjacent laminae of the vertebral arches
resists flexion, helps to preserve the curvatures of the vertebral column, assists in straightening of the column after flexion
ligamentum nuchae
thickening of the itnerspinous & supraspinous ligaments in the cervical region
extends from C7 to the external occipital protuberance
separates the muscles on the two sides of the neck & provides attachment for them
atlanto-occipital joint
joint b/n the superior articular surfaces of the lateral masses of the atlas & occipital condyles of the skull
permits flexion & extension (‘‘yes” movement of the head)
atlanto-axial joints
consists of three joints:
- median joint: joint b/n the dens of axis & anterior arch of the atlas
- lateral joints: joints b/n the lateral masses of the atlas & superior facets of the axis
permit head to be turned from side to side (‘no” movement of head)
