The vertebral column Flashcards
what makes up the axial skeleton
aka vertebral column or spine, made up of 32-33 vertebrae, ezch interacting with neighbours forming spinal units, each individual vertebrae is different
regions of the spine
Cervical- C1-7, Thoracic- T1-12, lumbar- L1-5, Sacral- S1-5, coccyx- 4 fused vertebra
spinal curves- cervical curve and lumbar curve
anterior convexity, posterior concavity, lordosis
spinal curves- thoracic and sacral curve
anterior concavity, posterior convexity, Kyphosis
normal posture- line of gravity
through mastoid process of skull, through the ear lobe, through upper cervical vertebra, through the shoulder joint, through midway trunk, through lower lumbar vertebra, posterior to hip joint, through the greater trochanter, anterior to knee and ankle joint (calcaneocuboid joint)
functions of spine- thoracic cage
supports thoracic cage- including ribs, need stable base to move and change intrathoracic dimension (draw air and force air out)
functions of spine- muscle and limb attachment
muscle attachment (irregular bones) particularly pelvic and pectoral girdle and spinal muscles upper/ lower limb attachment
functions of spine- protection
spinal cord runs through spinal foramen- larger in cervical region as it is at its largest (large canal)
functions of spine- shock
shock absorption- vertebral bodies/ muscle/ curves- allows degree of absorption in normal day to day activity, intervertebral discs
functions of spine- movement and stability
production and control of movement, give proximal stability to allow distal function
typical vertebra- 7 processes
articular process (X4), transverse process (X2), spinous process (X1)
7 processes- articular process
2 X superior and 2 X inferior, each has articular facet (synovial plane), cervical spine- rotation
7 processes- transverse process
project laterally- from junction of pedicles and laminae
function- levers for muscles and ligaments (side flex or rotate)
7 processes- spinous process
projects dorsally (often inferiorly)- insertion of muscles, for ligaments to control/ limit spinal movement vary in size, shape and direction function- levers for muscles which extend the spine
what attaches vertebra processes to vertebral body
these are attached to vertebral body by vertebral arch
typical vertebra- pedicle
joining the neural, vertebral arch to vertebral body (2 of them), expand to form superior and inferior articular processes
typical vertebra- laminar
on posterior vertebral arch- forms posterior faced spinous processes
what do vertebral bodies articulate at
they articulate at intervertebral joints
vertebral stacked- intervertebral foramen
between 2 vertebra joining, for exit spinal nerves
what do articulate processes articulate at
superior and inferior articular processes form facet/ zygapophyseal joints
vertebral stacked- lower down spine
as you descend down spine- become more robust
gradual changes as you descend down vertebra- cervical slowly changes to thoracic, which slowly changes to lumbar
what is the key difference between each spinal region
key difference is orientation of articular facet- facilitates some movement but limits other
cervical- horizontal
thoracic spine- become more vertical- facilitating rotation
lumbar spine- wrapped vertebra- face each other, orientation is vertical and facing inwards