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Spine > The vertebral column > Flashcards

The vertebral column Flashcards

1
Q

What are the main functions of the vertebral column?

A
  1. Protection: enclose spinal cord, shielding from damage
  2. Support: weight of upper body
  3. Movement & posture
  4. Central axis of body
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2
Q

What are the different regions of the vertebral column and how many bones are in each region?

A 
Cervical: 7
Thoracic: 12
Lumbar: 5
Sacrum: 5 (fused)
Coccyx: 4 (fused)
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3
Q

What is the basic outline of the vertebrae?

A

anterior vertebral body: weight bearing - increasing down the column (because supporting increasing amount of weight)
Posterior: vertebral arch

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4
Q

What are the superior and inferior parts of the vertebral body lined with?

A

Hyaline cartilage

separated by fibrocartilaginous intervertebral disc

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5
Q

What is the purpose of the IV discs?

A

shock absorber

allow flexibility of the spine

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6
Q

What is the shape of the IV disc in the lumbar and thoracic regions? why?

A

wedge shape

supporting curvature of the spine

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7
Q

What are the 2 regions of the vertebral disc?

A

nucleus pulposus - jelly like, located posteriorly

annulus fibrosus - tough and collagenous, surrounding nucleus pulposus

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8
Q

Clinical: herniation of IV disc

What happens in herniation of IV disc? What does it result in?

A

nucleus pulposus ruptures
breaking through annulus fibrosus
normally herniates posterior laterally, putting pressure on the spinal cord
results in a variety of neurological and muscular symptoms

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9
Q

What part is the vertebral arch?

A

lateral and posterior parts of the vertebrae

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10
Q

Where is the spinal cord enclosed?

A

the spinal cord runs through the vertebral canal

made up of all the vertebral foramen of the vertebral arch (arms) lining up

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11
Q

What are the bony prominences of the vertebral column acting as attachment sites for muscles and ligaments?

A
  1. pedicles: join body and articular process
  2. lamina: between (transverse) articular and spinous process
  3. Transverse process: extend posteriorly, laterally in thoracic spine (away from pedicles)
  4. Articular process: between pedicle and lamina, has superior and inferior to articulate with articular processes of vertebrae above and below
  5. Spinous process: posterior and inferior direction, protect spinal cord from e.g. stab between IV discs , site of attachment for muscles and ligaments
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12
Q

How many cervical vertebrae are there and what are their 3 main distinguishing features?

A

7 cervical vertebrae

  1. spinous process bifurcates (apart from C7)
  2. triangular vertebral foramen
  3. 2 transverse foramen present to allow the vertebral artery to run through (apart from C7)
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13
Q

What is special about C7 vertebrae?

A

doesn’t bifurcate,
doesn’t have 2 transverse foramina,
has a much longer spinous process

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14
Q

How many thoracic vertebrae are there? What are their main function? What does it produce?

A

12 thoracic vertebrae
articulate with ribs
producing bony thorax

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15
Q

Which parts of the thoracic vertebrae articulates with the ribs? What joints does it form?

A
  1. Superior csotal demifacet articulates with respective head of rib (superior) forming the costal vertebrae joint
  2. inferior costal demmifacet articulates with the head of inferior rib
  3. transverse costal facet (on transverse process) articulates with rib forming costal transverse joint
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16
Q

How is the spinous process of the thoracic vertebrae positioned? Why?

A

slanted anteriorly inferiorly to protect the spinal cord from sharp objects entering the spinal canal via the IV disc

17
Q

What shape is the vertebral foramen of the thoracic vertebrae?

A

circular

18
Q

What is special about the lumbar vertebrae? What are their main role?

A

largest vertebrae - there are 5 lumbar vertebrae
support weight of upper body (above pelvis - then lower limb take over)
have large vertebral bodies - kidney shaped

19
Q

What do the lumbar vertebrae lack?

A
  1. no transverse foramen (for vertebral artery)
  2. no bifid spinous process
  3. no costal facets (articulate with ribs)
20
Q

What is the shape of the lumbar vertebral foramen?

A

also triangle like cervical vertebral (for spinal cord)

triangle, circle, triangle

21
Q

What is the sacrum? What is present on the sacrum and what is it’s function?

A

5 fused vertebrae - like an upside down triangle, apex points inferior
facets on lateral walls articulate with pelvis
forms sacro-iliac joints

22
Q

What is the coccyx? what does it articulate with? What does it lack? What does this mean?

A

small bone articulating with the apex of the sacrum

lack of vertebral arches - so doesn’t transmit spinal cord

23
Q

What are the articulating joints of the vertebrae?

A
  1. superior articulating facet x 2 (on articular process)
  2. inferior articulating facet x 2
  3. vertebral body articulating with vertebral body above and below
24
Q

What type of joints are the vertebral body joints? What are they designed for? What do they allow?

A

cartilaginous joints with hyaline cartilage lining the bony surfaces
the are connected by a fibrocartilage IV disc
function for weight-bearing
Allow for small gliding movements

25
Q

What are the ligaments strengthening the articular facet joints?

A
  1. Ligamentum flavum: joints lamina to lamina
  2. intertransverse ligament: between transverse processes
  3. interspinous ligament: between spinous processes
  4. supraspinous ligament: joints tips of spinous processes
26
Q

What are the ligaments supporting the cartilaginous joints of the vertebrae? (IV discs)

A

anterior longitudinal ligament: prevent hyperextension, thicker than posterior, joints vertebral body and IV discs
posterior longitudinal ligament: prevent hyperflexion, joins vertebral body and IV disc

27
Q

Clinical: cervical spondylosis

A

decrease in size of intervertebral foramina (exiting of spinal nerves on side of vertebral column at each level)
due too generation of joints of spine (joints pushing closer together, closing up the gap between the vertebrae that are the intervertebral foramina)
puts pressure on exiting nerves, causing pain

28
Q

Clinical: scoliosis

A

lateral curvature of the spine

usually unknown causes

29
Q

Clinical: kyphosis

A

excessive thoracic curvature, causing hunchback deformaty

30
Q

Clinical: lordosis

A

excessive lumbar curvature

causing swayback deformity (lean back)

31
Q

Where does the vertebral column run from? How many bones does it contain? What else is contained within the vertebral column?

A

33 small bones
from cranium to apex of coccyx
contains spinal cord

Spine (7 decks)

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