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Anatomy > The Vertebral Column: Axial Skeleton > Flashcards

The Vertebral Column: Axial Skeleton Flashcards

1
Q

The vertebral column (aka spine, spinal column) is pat of the ___ skeleton.

A

axial

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2
Q

The cranium, mandible, spine, ribs, and sternum are part of the ____ skeleton.

A

axial

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3
Q

What are the parts of the axial skeleton?

A

cranium, mandible, spine, ribs, and sternum

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4
Q

What are the 2 principal roles of the vertebral column?

A

protect spinal cord

transfer loads from head, trunk, and upper limbs to pelvis

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5
Q

The human spine has adapted for ______.

A

bipedalism

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6
Q

Which region of the spinal “S-curve” is convex posteriorly?

A

thoracic

sacral

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7
Q

Which region of the spinal “S-curve” is concave?

A

cervical

lumbar

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8
Q

How many vertebrae in the cervical region?

A

7

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9
Q

How many vertebrae in the thoracic region?

A

12

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10
Q

How many vertebrae in the lumbar region?

A

5

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11
Q

How many vertebrae in the sacral region?

A

5

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12
Q

What is the purpose of the intervertebral discs?

A
  • cushion vertebra
  • helps transfer loads
  • “intervertebral joint”
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13
Q

Which vertebra has the smallest intervertebral discs? Which has the largest?

A

smallest- cervical

largest- lumbar (bear most weight)

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14
Q

What are the palpable skeletal landmarks and points of reference for the back and spinal column?

A
  • cervicothoracic junction (C7)
  • scapular spine (T3)
  • inferior scapular angle (T7)
  • 12th rib (T12)
  • Iliac crest (L4)
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15
Q

What are the movements of the vertebral column dictated by?

A

shape and position of superior and inferior articular facets

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16
Q

Where is there a greater range of flexion?

A

lumbar region

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17
Q

What are the movements of the vertebral column?

A 
extension 
flexion
lateral extension
lateral flexion
rotation of head and neck
rotation fo upper trunk, neck , and head
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18
Q

Rotation of the trunk occurs primarily in the ____ region.

A

thoracic

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19
Q

What is the most movable part of the vertebral column?

A

cervical spine

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20
Q

What is the total flexion and extension across the craniocervical region?

A

flexion: 45-50
extension: 85

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21
Q

What is the total axial rotation across the craniocervical region?

A

90

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22
Q

What is the total lateral flexion across the craniocervical region?

A

40

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23
Q

The craniocervical region is the articulation between what?

A

Skull and C1 + C2

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24
Q

Which artery is the main blood supply to the brain (moves with vertebral rotation)?

A

basilar artery

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25
Q

The course of the vertebral artery. through the transverse foramina of C2 (axis) and C1 (atlas) as they become the basilar a. make them vulnerable to impingement, in certain cases, when the neck is rotated:

A
  • osteoarthritis/ bone spurs
  • rapid and/or forceful twisting of the head and neck
  • atherosclerosis/arteriosclerosis of vertebral artery
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26
Q

What are some symptoms the impingement of basilar artery?

A
  • vertigo/dizziness
  • syncope
  • visual disturbance
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27
Q

Flexion and extension in the thoracic region is relatively _____.

28
Q

Why is flexion and extension in the thoracic region limited?

A
  • ribs
  • shape and orientation of articular spinous processes
  • ligaments
  • relative thinness of intervertebral discs
29
Q

What is the exception of the limited flexion and extension in the thoracic region?

A

12th thoracic vertebra which resembles lumbar vertebra (transitional)

30
Q

Flexion and extension in the lumbar region is relatively _____.

31
Q

Where in the lumbar region is flexion and extension the greatest/least?

A

least: thoracolumbar junction (T12-L1)
greatest: lumbosacral junction (L5- S2)

32
Q

Lateral flexion/bending in the thoracic region is somewhat _____.

33
Q

Why is lateral flexion/bending in the thoracic region somewhat limited?

A
  • articular processes

- ligaments

34
Q

Lateral flexion/bending in the lumbar region is somewhat _____.

35
Q

What type of rotation is an important aspect of human bipedal locomotion and where?

A

axial rotation of the trunk

36
Q

What promotes rotation in the thoracic region?

A

orientation fo the articular processes

37
Q

What limits the ROM for rotation in the thoracic spine that would be possible given the shape of the articular processes.

A

attachment of ribs

38
Q

What limits the ROM for rotation in the lumbar region ?

A

shape and orientation of lumbar articular processes and facets
(however, range of potential rotation increases slightly when the region is flexed)

39
Q

During thoracic rotation, how do the ribs accommodate rotational motion.

A

deform slightly

40
Q

What effects does thoracic rotation, associated with movement of the ribs, have on the sternum?

A

subjects sternum to shearing forces

41
Q

What is the weight-bearing part of the vertebral segments?

A

vertebral body

42
Q

which vertebra has no spinous process and no vertebral body?

43
Q

What anatomical feature of C7 can we palpate on the neck?

A

spinous process

44
Q

Where can an extra rib (or pair) arise from?

A

7th cervical vertebra

45
Q

An extra rib on C7 can result in what?

A

impede blood flow which can result in ThoracicOutlet Syndrome (not always)

46
Q

What are the 3 common variants of cervical ribs?

A
  • rudimentary
  • fused with 1st thoracic rib
  • fully developed
47
Q

Which vertebra is under the greatest amount fo strain and why?

A

lumbar

transmit weight to pelvis

48
Q

The sacrum is comprised of __ fused vertebra.

49
Q

Function of the sacrum:

A
  • strength and stability to the pelvis

- houses and anchors inferior part of spinal cord

50
Q

Attached to the inferior end of the sacrum are 3-4 small, fused vertebrae called the ____.

A

coccyx(tail bone)

51
Q

The thoracolumbar fascia is made up of how many layers?

A

3:

-anterior, middle, posterior

52
Q

Which muscle is a major flexor of vertebral column?

A

Psoas major

53
Q

What does the stability of the articulated vertebral column depend on?

A
  • articular discs between vertebral bodies
  • surrounding ligaments
  • surrounding musculature
54
Q

joints between the vertebral bodies

A

intervertebral joints

55
Q

Intervertebral joints are maintained by 3 ligamentous structures:

A

-annulus fibrosus (fibrous outer layer of discs)

56
Q

abnormal or exaggerated thoracic curvature (convexity)

A

kyphosis (hyperkyphosis)

57
Q

What can cause kyphosis?

A

trauma, developmental abnormalities, degenerative disease

58
Q

abnormal or exaggerated lumbar curvature (concavity)

A

lordosis (hyperlordosis)

59
Q

What can cause lordosis?

A

congenital abnormalities
musculoskeletal problems
degenerative disease

60
Q

abnormal or exaggerated lateral curvature of spine

61
Q

What can cause scoliosis?

A

congenital
neuromuscular
idiopathic

62
Q

Where do herniated intervertebral discs tend to occur?

A

lumbar region

63
Q

In which direction does herniation usually occur and why?

A

posterolateral direction
-posterior longitudinal ligament is not very broad and the herniated material of the disc will take the path of least resistance

64
Q

Thoracic disc herniation is usually a result of what?

A
  • wear and tear; disc degeneration
  • sudden and forceful twisting of midback section
  • other conditions that predispose individual such as abnormal kyphosis
65
Q

What causes a lumbar region disc herniation?

A
  • frequent bending, twisting, and improper lifting increases load on tendons that reinforce this region, as well as the intervertebral discs.
  • acute or sudden injury (a fall in which individual lands in a sitting position, for example)
66
Q

anterior/ventral displacement of one vertebra on adjacent

A

spondyloisthesis

Anatomy (7 decks)

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