The Vertebral Column Flashcards
how many vertebrae are there?
33
how many cervical vertebrae?
7
how many thoracic vertebrae
12
how many Lumbar vertebrae
5
how many sacral vertebrae
5
how many coccygeal vertebrae
3-5
name the primary curvatures of the spine
thoracic and sacral curvatures
name the secondary spinal curvatures
cervical and lumbar
what is scoliosis
scoliosis is lateral bending of the vertebral column
name the layers of the meninges
the dura mater, the arachnoid mater, the pia mater
what structures make the spinous process
the laminae bilaterally
what does the pedicle continue with?
the transverse process
name different joints of the vertebrae
costovertebral joints - head of rib and vertebra
costotransverse joints - tubercle of rib and transverse process
what is the intervertebral foramen and what passes through it
the foramen between adjacent vertebrae, where spinal nerves exit
what is the joint between superior articular facet and inferior articular facet
the zygoapophyseal joint
what is the weakest part of the vertebrae
the pars interarticularis
describe the spinous process of cervical vertebrae
bifid spinous process
describe the spinous process of the thoracic vertebra
point inferiorly
describe the spinous process in lumbar vertebrae
straighter
what is transmitted in the foramen transversarium
the vertebral arteries
what is seen in cervical vertebrae and not in other vertebrae
foramen transversarium, lateral masses, uncinate processes
special features of C1 (atlas)
no vertebral body, no spinous process
what is spondylolisthesis
the displacement of one vertebra in relation to another without fracture of the pars interarticularis
what are the two articular facets of C1 and what do they articulate with?
superior articular facet articulates with the occipital condyles
inferior articular facet articulates with C2 (axis)
special features of the C2 vertebra
dens/odontoid process which is a pivot for atlas
what vertebra corresponds to the palpable vertebral prominence?
C7, it is usually not bifid
what is the hangman fracture?
bilateral fracture of the pars interarticularis of C2
what does the tubercle of the rib articulate with?
the tubercle articulates with the transverse process of the vertebra
name additional articular facets of the thoracic vertebrae
transverse costal facet, superior and inferior costal facet
what vertebrae has the largest vertebral body
the lumbar vertebrae
what does the rib head articulate with
the inferior costal facet of the above vertebra and the superior costal facet of its own thoracic vertebra
what is transmitted through the sacral canal
the continuation of the lumbar vertebral canal and cauda equina
what is transmitted in the posterior sacral foramina
the dorsal rami of spinal nerves
what is transmitted in the anterior sacral foramina
the ventral rami of spinal nerves
where does the sacral canal terminate
at the sacral hiatus
additional processes on lumbar vertebrae?
the accessory processes and the mammillary processes
name the two components of the IVD
the inner nucleus palposus and outer annulus fibrosis
where does the Nuchal Ligament run?
from the external occipital protruberance to the spinous process of C7
What does the ligamentum flavum attach
the ligamentum flavum connects the laminae of adjacent vertebrae
name the enlargements of the spinal cord
cervical enlargement, lumbar enlargement
what is the cauda equina
the lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal roots extending below the level of the end of the spinal cord
name the structure that anchors the dura mater to the spinal cord?
The Denticulate ligament
describe the epidural space
space between the vertebral wall and the dura mater
describe the subarachnoid space
the space between the arachnoid and pia mater
what is white matter primarily composed of?
white matter is primarily composed of myelinated axons
what is gray matter primarily composed of
neuronal cell bodies
how many pairs of spinal nerves?
31 paris
how many cervical spinal nerves
8, although no C8 vertebra
