The Vertebral Column

Question 1

How many bones and how long?

Answer 1

33 bones, 70-75cm

Question 2

Movements of vertebral column

Answer 2

• Flexion (lean forwards)
• Extension (lean backwards)
• Abduction (lean left/right)
• Rotation (twisting)

Question 3

Gross functions of vertebral column

Answer 3

• Centre of gravity
• Attachment for bones + trunk muscles
• Passage of spinal cord
• Segmental innervation of body

Question 4

Attachments at different sites (bones)

Answer 4

Above - head
Centrally - ribs, upper limbs (indirectly)
Below - hip bones

Question 5

What is the curvature of a foetal vertebral column?

Answer 5

Concave anterior (‘figure of C’) - primary curvature

Question 6

4 curvatures of adult spinal column (T-B)

Answer 6

Cervical (secondary)
Thoracic (primary)
Lumbar (secondary)
Sacral (primary)

Question 7

At what vertebral levels are the natural weak points (sinuous bends where centre of gravity passes through)

Answer 7

• C1 & C2
• C7 & T1
• T12 & L1
• L5 & S1

Question 8

What happens to the spinal column in old age?

Answer 8

• Secondary curvatures disappear
• C-shape returns

Question 9

2 assemblies of the spinal column

Answer 9

• Discrete single vertebrae (24)
• Fused vertebrae (sacrum (5) and coccyx (4))

Question 10

Classes of vertabrae

Answer 10

• Atypical (atlas & axis)
• Typical

Question 11

A typical vertebra consists of…

Answer 11

• Vertebral body
• Vertebral arch

Question 12

Components of the vertebral arch

Answer 12

• Pedicle (between body and TP)
• Transverse process (lateral projections)
• Lamina (between TP and SP)
• Spinous process (posterior projection)

Question 13

2 notches in the pedicles and what they form

Answer 13

• Superior and inferior notches
• Form intervertebral foramen (1 notch from each adjacent vertebra)

Question 14

What passes through the intervertebral foramen?

Answer 14

Segmental nerves (from spinal cord to periphery)

Question 15

What proportion of the vertebral column is intervertebral discs?

Answer 15

25% (19cm)

Question 16

2 regions of intervertebral disc

Answer 16

• Nucleus pulposus (central)
• Annulus fibrosus (peripheral)

Question 17

Nucleus pulposus location in infants and adults

Answer 17

Central in infant, posterior in adult

Question 18

2 band types in annulus fibrosus

Answer 18

• Outer (collagenous)
• Inner (fibro-cartilaginous)

Question 19

3 primary ossification centres of typical vertebrae

Answer 19

• 1 in endochondral centrum (becomes vertebral body)
• 1 in each neural process (become pedicles)

Question 20

5 secondary ossification centres of typical vertebrae

Answer 20

• Tip of spinous process
• Both transverse processes
• Superior and inferior surfaces of vertebral body

Question 21

Ossification starting location

Answer 21

Thoracolumbar junction (then proceeds in both directions)