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MRAD 2235 Anatomy > The Vertebral Column > Flashcards

The Vertebral Column Flashcards

1
Q

How many true vertebra are in the vertebral column?

A

24 total
7 cervical (C-spine)
12 thoracic (T-spine)
5 lumbar (L-spine)

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2
Q

How many fused segments are in the vertebral column and where are they located?

A

9 total
In the Sacrum and Coccyx
5 sacral
3-4 coccyx

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3
Q

What 3 stages of life will the spine curve dramatically change?

A

Fetal
Infancy to adult
Elderly

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4
Q

What is the curve during the fetal stage?

A

Anteriorly concave - known as the primary curvature
(remains in thoracic and sacral to adulthood)

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5
Q

What is the curvature stage from infancy to adulthood?

A

The secondary curvature develops which is convex and shows up in as the cervical and lumbar curvature

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6
Q

What is the curvature change during the elderly stage?

A

Secondary curvature starts to disappear particularly in the cervical area causing a hunchback known as kyphosis

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7
Q

Lordosis

A

Abnormal curvature of the lumbar spine causing a “swayback” deformity.

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8
Q

Kyphosis

A

Exaggerated concave curvature of the thoracic spine causing a “hunchback” deformity

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9
Q

Scoliosis

A

Lateral “S” curve of the spine. It occurs primarily in the thoracic spine with compensatory curves in the cervical and lumbar spine. It is congenital or secondary to trauma and/or pathology

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10
Q

Spinous process

A

A
Location: Posterior projection from the vertebral arch
Part of Spine: Found in all vertebrae (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral)
Purpose: Provides attachment for muscles and ligaments that control movement and stability of the spine
Attachments: Ligamentum nuchae, supraspinous ligament, various back muscles (e.g., trapezius, rhomboids, spinalis)

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11
Q

Superior articular process

A

B
Location: Extends upward from the vertebra to articulate with the vertebra above
Part of Spine: Found in all vertebrae (cervical, thoracic, lumbar)
Purpose: Forms part of the facet joints, allowing controlled movement and flexibility of the spine
Attachments: None directly, but supports joint capsule and ligaments
Articulations: Articulates with the inferior articular process of the vertebra above

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12
Q

Transverse process

A

C
Location: Lateral projections from the vertebral arch
Part of Spine: Found in all vertebrae; more prominent in thoracic vertebrae for rib articulation
Purpose: Provides attachment points for muscles and ligaments; in thoracic vertebrae, also articulates with ribs
Attachments: Deep back muscles, intertransverse ligaments, levator scapulae, and erector spinae muscles
Articulations: In thoracic vertebrae, articulates with the tubercle of the ribs

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13
Q

Pedicle

A

D
Location: A short, thick bony bridge connecting the vertebral body to the transverse processes
Part of Spine: Found in all vertebrae
Purpose: Helps form the vertebral arch and protects the spinal cord
Attachments: None directly, but forms part of the vertebral foramen boundary
Articulations: Connects the vertebral body to the posterior elements of the vertebra

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14
Q

Vertebral body (superior endplate)

A

E
Location: The thick, weight-bearing anterior portion of the vertebra
Part of Spine: Found in all vertebrae (largest in lumbar region for weight-bearing)
Purpose: Supports body weight and helps absorb shock from movement
Attachments: Intervertebral discs attach to the superior and inferior endplates
Articulations: Articulates with adjacent vertebral bodies via intervertebral discs

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15
Q

Vertebral foramen

A

F
Location: The large central opening within each vertebra
Part of Spine: Found in all vertebrae; forms the vertebral canal when stacked together
Purpose: Houses and protects the spinal cord
Attachments: None directly
Articulations: None directly, but collectively forms the vertebral canal for spinal cord passage

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16
Q

Superior articular facet

A

G
Location: A smooth, flat surface on the superior articular process
Part of Spine: Found in all vertebrae
Purpose: Forms the zygapophyseal (facet) joints, allowing movement between vertebrae
Attachments: None directly, but supports the joint capsule of facet joints
Articulations: Articulates with the inferior articular facet of the vertebra above

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17
Q

Lamina

A

H
Location: A thin bony plate forming the posterior part of the vertebral arch
Part of Spine: Found in all vertebrae
Purpose: Protects the spinal cord and contributes to the vertebral arch
Attachments: Ligamentum flavum, muscles of the back, and spinous process
Articulations: Connects with the lamina of the opposite side to complete the vertebral arch

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18
Q

Vertebral body

A

1
Location: The large, cylindrical, weight-bearing portion of the vertebra at its anterior side
Part of Spine: Found in all vertebrae (largest in lumbar region for weight support)
Purpose: Supports body weight and serves as the main structure for intervertebral disc attachment
Attachments: Intervertebral discs attach to the superior and inferior surfaces
Articulations: Articulates with the adjacent vertebral bodies via intervertebral discs

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19
Q

Inferior vertebral notch

A

2
Location: A concave depression on the lower border of the pedicle
Part of Spine: Found in all vertebrae
Purpose: Helps form the intervertebral foramen, allowing spinal nerves to exit
Attachments: None directly
Articulations: Aligns with the superior vertebral notch of the vertebra below to form the intervertebral foramen

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20
Q

Inferior articular facet

A

3
Location: A smooth, flat surface on the inferior articular process
Part of Spine: Found in all vertebrae
Purpose: Forms the zygapophyseal (facet) joints, allowing controlled movement between vertebrae
Attachments: None directly, but supports the joint capsule of facet joints
Articulations: Articulates with the superior articular facet of the vertebra below

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21
Q

Spinous process

A

4
Location: Posterior projection from the vertebral arch
Part of Spine: Found in all vertebrae (varies in shape, longest in thoracic region)
Purpose: Provides attachment for muscles and ligaments involved in spinal movement and stability
Attachments: Ligamentum nuchae, supraspinous ligament, various back muscles (e.g., trapezius, spinalis)
Articulations: None directly

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22
Q

Pars interarticularis

A

5
Location: The part of the vertebral arch between the superior and inferior articular processes
Part of Spine: Most prominent in the lumbar vertebrae, susceptible to stress fractures (spondylolysis)
Purpose: Helps transmit forces between the anterior and posterior parts of the vertebra
Attachments: None directly, but acts as a structural bridge within the vertebral arch
Articulations: Connects the superior and inferior articular processes

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23
Q

Transverse process

A

6
Location: Lateral projections from the vertebral arch
Part of Spine: Found in all vertebrae; prominent in thoracic vertebrae for rib articulation
Purpose: Provides attachment for muscles and ligaments; in thoracic vertebrae, also articulates with ribs
Attachments: Deep back muscles, intertransverse ligaments, levator scapulae, and erector spinae muscles
Articulations: In thoracic vertebrae, articulates with the tubercle of the ribs

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24
Q

Superior articular process

A

7
Location: A bony projection extending upward from the vertebra
Part of Spine: Found in all vertebrae
Purpose: Forms part of the facet joints, allowing movement and stability in the spine
Attachments: None directly, but supports the joint capsule of the facet joints
Articulations: Articulates with the inferior articular process of the vertebra above

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25
Q

Superior vertebral notch

A

8
Location: A concave depression on the upper border of the pedicle
Part of Spine: Found in all vertebrae
Purpose: Helps form the intervertebral foramen, allowing spinal nerves to exit
Attachments: None directly
Articulations: Aligns with the inferior vertebral notch of the vertebra above to form the intervertebral foramen

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26
Q

Inferior vertebral endplate

A

1

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27
Q

Superior vertebral endplate

A

2

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28
Q

Anterior cortical margin

A

3

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29
Q

Vertebral body

A

4

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30
Q

Intervertebral disc space

A

5

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31
Q

Posterior cortical margin

A

6

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32
Q

Spinous process

A

7

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33
Q

Pedicle

A

8

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34
Q

Facet (apophyseal joint)

A

9

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35
Q

Pars interarticularis

A

10

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36
Q

Superior articular process

A

11

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37
Q

Inferior articular process

A

12

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38
Q

Intervertebral foramen

A

13

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39
Q

Inferior vertebral notch

A

14

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40
Q

Rib (not part of typical vertebra)

A

15

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41
Q

Superior vertebral notch

42
Q

Transverse Ligament

43
Q

Joint between occipital joint and C1

A

atlanto-occypital joint - synovial elipsoid joint

44
Q

C1 & C2 joint

A

atlantoaxial joint - synovial pivot

45
Q

Spinous process

46
Q

Lamina

47
Q

Superior articular facet

48
Q

Foramen transversarium

49
Q

Transverse process

50
Q

Vertebral foramen

51
Q

Vertebral body (superior endplate)

52
Q

Uncinate process (edge of the vertebral body)

53
Q

Superior articular process

54
Q

Vertebral body

55
Q

Transverse process

56
Q

Inferior vertebral notch

57
Q

Inferior articular facet

58
Q

Inferior articular process

59
Q

Spinous process

60
Q

Superior articular facet

61
Q

Superior articular process

62
Q

Superior vertebral notch

63
Q

Uncinate process

64
Q

Anterior tubercle

65
Q

Superior articular facet

66
Q

Foramen transversarium

67
Q

Vertebral foramen

68
Q

Posterior arch

69
Q

Posterior tubercle

70
Q

Groove for the vertebral artery

71
Q

Transverse process

72
Q

Facet for the odontoid process

73
Q

Anterior arch

74
Q

Odontoid process (dens)

75
Q

Facet for the anterior arch of the atlas

76
Q

Superior articular facet

77
Q

Foramen transversarium

78
Q

Transverse process

79
Q

Body

80
Q

Inferior articular facet

81
Q

Spinous process

82
Q

Transverse process

83
Q

Superior articular facet

84
Q

Vertebral foramen

85
Q

Superior endplate of the body

86
Q

Pedicle

87
Q

Costal facet for the tubercle of the rib

88
Q

Lamina

89
Q

Body

90
Q

Demi-facet for the head of the rib

91
Q

Inferior vertebral notch

92
Q

Inferior articular process

93
Q

Spinous process

94
Q

Transverse process

95
Q

Costal facet for the tubercle of the rib

96
Q

Superior articular facet

97
Q

Superior articular process

98
Q

Demi-facet for the head of the rib

99
Q

What are the special features of T1?

A

Body – full (rather than demi-) superior costal facets are circular and articulate with the first ribs; inferior costal demi-facets are semi-circular and articulate with the second ribs.
Spinous process – thick, long and horizontal.

100
Q

What are the special features of T9?

A

Body – inferior costal demi-facets are sometimes absent.

101
Q

What are the special features of T10?

A

Body – sometimes full (rather than demi-) superior costal facets, oval in shape for articulation with the tenth ribs.
Transverse processes – facet for articulation with the tenth rib may be absent.
Inferior costal facets – absent.

102
Q

What are the special features of T11/12?

A

Body – full superior costal facets, oval in shape for articulation with the 11th/12th ribs, respectively.
Transverse processes – small, no costal facets.
Inferior costal facets – absent.

MRAD 2235 Anatomy (7 decks)

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