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.