The Vertebral Column and Thoracic Cage Flashcards
How many vertebrae do we have
33
how many regions of vertebrae do we have? What are the regions
5 regions
Cervical (7), Thoracic (12), Lumbar (5), Sacral (5) and Coccygeal (2-4)
What are Primary (1º) curvatures?
develop during the fetal period; the newborn spine is kyphotic, which is concave anteriorly
include:
- thoracic kyphosis
- sacral kyphosis
What are Secondary (2º) curvatures?
result from the development of the spine in the first few years of life
- Cervical lordosis develops when infants begin to hold their heads up
- Lumbar lordosis develops when toddlers begin standing & walking
Features of a typical vertebra
1) body, 2) vertebral arch, 3) & 4) articular processes, 5) & 6) transverse processes, 7) spinous process, 8) & 9) pedicles, 10) & 11) laminae.
Between the body and the vertebral arch there is an opening known as the ____________ which houses the spinal cord
vertebral foramen
in addition, the foramen that is formed between pedicles of the adjacent vertebrae is called _____________ (this protects exiting spinal nerves)
intervertebral foramen
ANTERIOR PROJECTION; LARGEST BONY SEGMENT, STACKS UP ON EACH OTHER FOR COLUMN HEIGHT AND SHOCK ABSORPTION
Body
RIGHT AND LEFT (LATERAL PROJECTIONS) EXTEND OUT FROM VERTEBRA IN TRANSVERSE PLANE, SERVES AS ATTACHMENT FOR RIBS AND MUSCLES
Transverse processes (2)
EXTENDS POSTERIORLY FROM VERTEBRAE IN SAGITTAL PLANE, SERVES AS ATTACHMENT FOR RIBS AND MUSCLES
spinous processes
EXTEND SUPERIORLY AND INFERIORLY FROM VERTEBRAE (2 SUPERIOR, 2 INFERIOR FOR EVERY SEGMENT); ALLOWS VERTEBRAE TO FORM JOINTS WITH EACH OTHER
Articular processes (4)
RIGHT AND LEFT = CONNECTS BODY OF VERTEBRAE WITH TVPS
Pedicles
RIGHT AND LEFT = CONNECTS TVPS OF VERTEBRAE WITH SPS
lamina
FORMED BY UNION OF: BODY, PEDICLE, LAMINA AND SP; BORDERS/ PROTECTS THE SPINAL CORD
vertebral foramen
RIGHT AND LEFT = FORMED BY ADJACENT PEDICLES; BORDERS/PROTECTS EXITING SPINAL NERVES
intervertebral foramen
There are ___ pairs of spinal nerves exiting off spinal cord and enter periphery by passing through intervertebral foramen
31
The Vertebral Canal protects the
spinal cord
the intervertebral foramen connects the
spinal nerves as they exit from cord
how many spinal nerves are in each section of the vertebral column
cervical = 8
thoracic = 12
lumbar = 5
sacral = 5
coccygeal = 1
There are _ vertebrae in the cervical region forming a ______ curvature.
7, lordotic
The main common features of the typical cervical vertebrae are as follows:
- small body
- transverse foramen in transverse process
- bifurcated spinous process
which two vertebrae have some special features that make them different from a typical cervical vertebrae
Atlas (C1) and Axis (C2)
The atlas has no ____, _____, and no ____
body, laminar, pedicles
what are the additional features of the atlas? (2)
- anterior and posterior arches
- lateral mass on either side of the vertebrae contains the articular surfaces on the superior and inferior surfaces
Where is the additional articular surface for the dens of axis found on C1
the posterior surface of the anterior arch
What are the superior articular surfaces on C1 for?
for other occipital condyles of the skull
What are the inferior articular surfaces on C1 for?
for the axis (C2) respectively
what is the exceptional feature of the axis?
a large odontoid process (dens of axis)
where is the dens of the axis attached to C2?
the superior surface of the body. This process acts as an axis (pivot) and permits the rotation of the atlas on the axis bone.
Anterior surface of dens contains an articular facet which matches up with the facet on the posterior surface of the anterior arch of C1 (atlas). Together these surfaces form the _______________
“medial Atlantoaxial joint”
The lateral atlantoaxial joint is formed between the _______ articular facet of the axis and the inferior articular facet on the _____ mass of the atlas
superior, lateral
Vertebra prominensis the proper name for the _____ cervical vertebra. The most distinctive characteristic of this vertebra is the existence of a long and prominent spinous process which is palpable from the skin surface, hence the name.
7th
what are the main characteristics of the thoracic vertebrae?
- Costal facet are present on the sides of the bodies where the heads of the ribs articulate (demi-facet or semi-facet or hemi-fact)
- Costal facets on the transverse processes (called transverse costal facet) for articulation with the tubercles of the ribs.(T11 and T12 have no facets on the transverse processes.)
what are the components of the thoracic cage?
- 12 thoracic vertebrae + intervertebral discs
- 12 pairs of ribs and costal cartilage
- sternum
Functions of the Thoracic Cage (4)
- attachment for upper limbs
- attachment for many muscles of upper limbs, neck, abdomen, back and muscles of respiration
- functions to protect the thoracic and abdominal organs
- attachment for mammary glands of breast tissue which are located in the subcutaneous tissues of the anterolateral chest wall
how many TRUE ribs are there
(1-7) – direct attachment to the sternum
how many FALSE ribs are there
2 (8-10) – indirect attachment to the sternum
they attach / fuse to the costal cartilage of rib 7 to form indirect attachment
How many FREE ribs are there
FREE / FLOATING (11 and 12) – no attachment to the sternum
The spaces between the ribs on each side of the thoracic cage called _____________ are filled by the intercostal muscles and carry the intercostal nerve and vessels.
intercostal spaces
components of a typical rib
- Long, twisted flat bone with superior and inferior border
- costal groove
- head
- neck
- tubercle
- shaft
- angle
The ______ border overhangs and forms the ________, which accommodates the intercostal vessels and nerve.
inferior, costal groove
The ______ has two semi-facets for articulation with the numerically corresponding vertebral body and that of the vertebra immediately above. (separated by inter-articular crest).
head
The neck is a constricted portion situated between the ____ and the _____
head and tubercle
The ______ is a prominence on the outer surface of the rib at the junction of the neck with the shaft. It consists of an articular and a non-articular portion. The articular portion has a facet for articulation with the ________ of the numerically corresponding vertebra. The non-articular portion gives attachment to the _______.
tubercle, transverse process, ligaments
The _____ is where the shaft of the rib bends sharply forward.
angle
The ______ end of each rib is attached to the corresponding costal cartilage.
anterior
Which ribs are Atypical
1, 2, 10, 11, 12
The ______ is atypical. This rib is flattened and wider than the rest of the ribs. It has a tubercle on the inner (medial) border, known as the scalene tubercle, for the insertion of the anterior scalene muscle.
first rib
what does the first rib not have?
a angle or costal groove. It’s head only bears one articular surface for the body of T1 (similar to the 11th and 12th)
how is rib 2 different from other atypical ribs?
The body of the second rib has similar characteristics to typical ribs, except it the costal groove.
____: has only a single articular facet on its head.
10th rib
_________: have only a single articular facet on the head. They have no neck or tubercle.
11th and 12th ribs
The ____ rib has a slight angle and shallow costal groove but the ____ rib has no angle or costal groove.
11th, 12th
The sternum is a flat bone that may be divided into three parts
- the manubrium
- the body
- xiphoid process
The ______ , also known as the jugular notch is the large, visible dip where the clavicle AND first rib joins the sternum
suprasternal notch
The body of the sternum articulates above with the manubrium. Below, it articulates with the xiphoid process. On each side are notches for articulation with the lower part of the second costal cartilage and the attachment of ribs ____via their costal cartilage.
3-6
______ is the angle formed by the junction of the manubrium and the body of the sternum in the form of a cartilaginous joint. This is also called the ___________. The sternal angle is a palpable clinical landmark. It marks the approximate level of the ____ of costal cartilages and the level of the intervertebral disc between _______
The sternal angle (Angle of Louis), manubriosternal joint.
2nd pair and T4 and T5.
The _____ joint is demarcated by a transverse ridge, attachment for rib 7 costal cartilage.
xiphi-sternal
How do lumbar vertebrae differ?
the body is massive and kidney-shaped
pedicles are strong
laminae are thick
transverse processes are long and slender
The ___________ have no facets for articulation with ribs and no foramina in the transverse processes
lumbar vertebrae
The _______________ is found at the posterior margin of the superior articular processes of the lumbar vertebrae
mammillary process
The vertebral foramina are present on the sacrum and coccyx and form the
sacral canal
On the posterior surface of the sacrum, the spinous, articular, and transverse processes of the sacral vertebrae fuse together and form boney ridges known as __________.
sacral crests
there are __ pairs of posterior sacral foramina
4
The ____ surface of the sacrum is concave and has four foramina on each side. On the sides of the first sacral vertebra there are two triangular flat surfaces, called ___
anterior, sacral Ala
The coccyx consists of ______ fused together to form a small triangular bone, which articulates at its base with the apex of the sacrum.
four vertebrae
Intervertebral Discs make up approximately ___ of the column height
25%
the function of the Intervertebral Discs
- strong attachment between vertebrae for support and protection
- weight bearing, shock absorption
Intervertebral Discs are composed of ___________and _____________
Annulus fibrosus, Nucleus pulposus
how are the discs named?
Discs are named after the vertebral segments they connect
there are no discs between
between atlas and skull or atlas and dens, sacral segments, and coccygeal segments
concentric rings of fibrocartilage that connect adjacent vertebral bodies and secure the nucleus in position
Annulus fibrosus
semi-gelatinous mass that acts as a shock absorber
Nucleus pulpous
