Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Axial anatomy > The vertebral column > Flashcards

The vertebral column Flashcards

1
Q

what makes up the axial skeleton

A

aka vertebral column or spine, made up of 32-33 vertebrae, ezch interacting with neighbours forming spinal units, each individual vertebrae is different

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

regions of the spine

A

Cervical- C1-7, Thoracic- T1-12, lumbar- L1-5, Sacral- S1-5, coccyx- 4 fused vertebra

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

spinal curves- cervical curve and lumbar curve

A

anterior convexity, posterior concavity, lordosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

spinal curves- thoracic and sacral curve

A

anterior concavity, posterior convexity, Kyphosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

normal posture- line of gravity

A

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)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

functions of spine- thoracic cage

A

supports thoracic cage- including ribs, need stable base to move and change intrathoracic dimension (draw air and force air out)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

functions of spine- muscle and limb attachment

A 
muscle attachment (irregular bones) particularly pelvic and pectoral girdle and spinal muscles
upper/ lower limb attachment
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

functions of spine- protection

A

spinal cord runs through spinal foramen- larger in cervical region as it is at its largest (large canal)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

functions of spine- shock

A

shock absorption- vertebral bodies/ muscle/ curves- allows degree of absorption in normal day to day activity, intervertebral discs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

functions of spine- movement and stability

A

production and control of movement, give proximal stability to allow distal function

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

typical vertebra- 7 processes

A

articular process (X4), transverse process (X2), spinous process (X1)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

7 processes- articular process

A

2 X superior and 2 X inferior, each has articular facet (synovial plane), cervical spine- rotation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

7 processes- transverse process

A

project laterally- from junction of pedicles and laminae

function- levers for muscles and ligaments (side flex or rotate)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

7 processes- spinous process

A 
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
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what attaches vertebra processes to vertebral body

A

these are attached to vertebral body by vertebral arch

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

typical vertebra- pedicle

A

joining the neural, vertebral arch to vertebral body (2 of them), expand to form superior and inferior articular processes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

typical vertebra- laminar

A

on posterior vertebral arch- forms posterior faced spinous processes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what do vertebral bodies articulate at

A

they articulate at intervertebral joints

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

vertebral stacked- intervertebral foramen

A

between 2 vertebra joining, for exit spinal nerves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what do articulate processes articulate at

A

superior and inferior articular processes form facet/ zygapophyseal joints

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

vertebral stacked- lower down spine

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what is the key difference between each spinal region

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

cervical vertebra- shape and function

A

small retinacular body, carry weight head and muscles of neck, large vertebral foramen- lots of spinal cord (gives of fewest material- at its largest), has foramen transversum tip– hole in transverse process

24
Q

cervical vertebra- processes

A

transverse processes are anteriorly placed, have anterior and posterior tubercles
bifid spinous process

25
Q

cervical vertebra- uncovertebral joints

A

joints of von lushka, important as they can suffer from degenerative arthritis, where there is liping of the lateral aspect of one vertebral body articulating with its neighbour above (encloses intervertebral discs)
has synovial joint on either side

26
Q

curves in cervical spine

A 
anterior convexity- support skull 
C1- atlas 
C2 (Axis) /7 (atypical) 
C2- prominent spinous process 
C7- vertebra prominens
C6- Withdraws on cervical extension
27
Q

thoracic vertebra- shape

A

round body, long slanted spinous process, transverse process with facet- long and slender,

28
Q

thoracic vertebra- joints

A

costal facet joints (4X), rib cage joints (2X)- demifacets on posterior aspect of body of vertebra- synovial plane joints with articulations with head of ribs (superior and inferior)- these are costorib transverse articulations

29
Q

thoracic vertebra- articular facets

A

they are more in a vertical plane

30
Q

thoracic vertebra- thoracic spine

A

anterior concavity, attaches the ribs, spinous process T3- spine of scapula, level with inferior angle of scapula-if patient lying in prone with arms by side
spinous process T7- level with inferior angle of scapula-if patient lying in prone

31
Q

lumbar vertebra- shape

A

large wide body, broad short laminae and pedicles, quadrangular spinous process , transverse process thun and long- muscle attachments

32
Q

lumbar vertebra- articulation

A

mamillary process- attachment for muscles, associated with internal aspect of superior articular facets, vertical facets, no costal facets or transverse foramina

33
Q

sacrum

A

5 fused vertebrae, based articulation with 5th lumbar vertebra, sacral promontory and superior articular process, apex, sacral canal and foramina, concave anteriorly, spinous tubercles

34
Q

when does the spinal cord cease

A

spinal cord ceases at L2 at the conus medullaris anything beyond this is cauda equina- less neuro material in lumbar spine

35
Q

the coccyx

A

small triangular, 3-4 vertebra fused, directed inferior and ventrally, decrease in size

36
Q

palpitation landmarks

A

C2- Prominent spinous process, C6- disappears on cervical extension, C7- vertebra prominens, T3- spine of scapula, T7- level with inferior angle of scapula, L4- iliac crest, S2- level of PSIS

37
Q

important function of spine

A

important as central axis, enclosing the spinal cord, weight transfer and muscle attachment

38
Q

what is vertebral unit

A

2 vertebra together

39
Q

what is the movement of disics controlled by

A

it is controlled by posterior zygapophyseal joints

40
Q

joints

A

intervertebral- vertebral bodies articulate at intervertebral joints- fibrous joints
zygapophyseal joints- superior and inferior articular processes form facet/ zygapophyseal joints- synovial plane

41
Q

intervertebral joints

A

a symphysis (secondary cartilaginous), vertebral end plate- consist of hyaline cartilage, intervertebral discis,

42
Q

shape of intervertebral joints

A

sandwich- vertebra- hyaline- intervertebral disc- hyaline end plate- back vto vertebra

43
Q

intervertebral joints- fibrocartilaginous disc

A

2 parts- annulus fibrosus (rounded fibrous tissue, has more structure) and nucleus pulposus (centre pulpy- higher fluid content)

44
Q

intervertebral discs- annulus fibrosus

A

ring of fibres, composed of 60-70% of water, layers of collagen fibres arranged in sheets called lamellae- allows strong structure and movement, run at 90° , thicker towards centre of disc and in anterior and lateral portions, thinner posteriorly, stiff structures resist buckling, within this is nucleus pulposus

45
Q

intervertebral discs- nucleus pulposus

A

semi- fluid mass of mucoid material, 88% water, deformed under pressure from any direction, transmit the applied pressure in all directions, gives shock absorbance capacity

46
Q

what does the discs do?

A

shock absorption, allows movement and load transition, hydro elastic properties- due to water content, stability to the spinal column, limit excessive movements, movements affected position of zygapophyseal joints and fluid of nucleus propulsus

47
Q

prolapsed intervertebral disc

A

where nucleus pulposus fluid finds its way through the shearing damage within the annulus fibrosis (common on posterolateral aspect)
fluid puts pressure on aspect of spinal cord/ nerve
could go up or down a level to affect superior or inferior spinal nerves

48
Q

zygapophyseal joint

A

synovial joints between. vertebral arches. inferior articular process of one vertebra with the superior articular process of the vertebra below, articular cartilage, synovial membrane, capable of degeneration

49
Q

zygapophyseal joint- planes of joint

A

planes of the joints are different in cervical (superior facet horizontal- flex, ext, rotation), and lumbar (superior facet inwards- flex and ext), thoracic region (superior facet backwards- meet to rotation), inferior facet does opposite

50
Q

ligaments supporting spine- anterior longitudinal ligament

A

bonded to anterior surface of vertebra bodies from C2 to sacrum and intervertebral discs, limits extension of spine

51
Q

ligaments supporting spine- posterior longitudinal ligament

A

within spinal canal, bounded to posterior aspect of vertebra bodies and intervening vertebral discs travels from C2 to sacrum, limits spinal flexion

52
Q

ligaments supporting spine- ligamentum flavum

A

between laminae of each adjacent vertebra, from cervical spine to lumbar spine, limits spinal flexion and rotation

53
Q

ligaments supporting spine- ligament nuchae

A

cervical region, centre of external occipital protuberance fans out laterally on superior nuchleal line, and all the way down inferior aspect of the occiput to C1, and attaches to spinous process of C2-C7, continuous as supraspinous ligament

54
Q

ligaments supporting spine- supraspinous ligament

A

limits flexion, ribbon like blending to tips of each spinous process down into sacrum

55
Q

ligaments supporting spine- interspinous ligament

A

between each spinous process, limit flexion of spine

56
Q

ligaments supporting spine- intertransverse ligament

A

between transverse process, limits side flexion to opposite side

57
Q

movements of spine

A

flexion and extension, lateral/ side flexion, rotation, protraction and retraction of cervical spine, movements facilitated and limits by orientation of articular facets

Axial anatomy (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions