Unit 1: Lecture 6/7 Flashcards
How long is the vertebral column? (cm, in, and ft)
72-75cm
28-30in
2.5 ft
Curvatures of back (# and time of curvature)
Cervical (7; secondary) Thoracic (12; primary) Lumbar (5; secondary) Sacral (5; primary;) ------------------------------- Coccygeal (4 - fused)
Curvatures of back (flexible or fused)
C - flex T - flex L - flex S - fused Coccygeal - fused
Parts (generalized) of a typical vertebrae (3)
- body
- neural arch
- vertebral foramen
Parts of a basic neural arch
- pedicle
- processes (superior/inferior articular, spinous, transverse)
- facets
- pars interarticularis
- superior/inferior articular notch
Superior Articular Facet + Inferior Articular Facet =
Vertebral Facet Joint (gliding joint)
When superior/inferior notches are stacked on top of each other, the space between them forms…
Intervertebral Foramen, allowing space to transmit spinal nerves
Special Cervical Vertebrae traits
- Transverse foramen, allowing space for vertebral arteries
- Bifid (split) spinous process
- Uncinate process (uncus body of C2-C7)
- Articular facets start on transverse plane (C3) and end on coronal plane (C7)
- Largest vertebral foramen
- oval-shaped body
Special Thoracic Vertebrae traits
- No more uncus or transverse foramen
- heart-shaped bodies
- Costal facets form costal cup
- Articular processes on coronal plane
Costal Demi-facet on Thoracic Vertebrae
Creates costal cup, which is where the head of a rib will attach. # of rib will be the number of the LOWER # vertebrae of costal cup
Special Lumbar Vertebrae traits
- large bean-shaped bodies
- larger vertebral foramen (triangular-shaped)
- spinous processes are super short and stubby
- Costal facets on a sagittal plane
- Mammillary and Accessory processes
Special Sacral Vertebrae traits
- fused
- Anterior/Posterior Sacral Foramina (4 pairs each)
- Sacral canal
- Median/Lateral Sacral ridge
- Sacral horns (articulate with coccygeal horns)
- Sacral hiatus
Special Coccyx traits
- fused (4 segments)
- coccygeal horns (articulate with sacral horns)
- transverse processes
- pelvic diaphragm attachment
Sacrococcygeal joint
The articulation of facets between sacrum and coccyx.
Gliding joint.
Sacrococcygeal ligaments
- 2 lateral (covering the lateral ridges)
- 1 posterior (covering the medial ridge)
Intevertebral disks parts (2)
- Nucleus Polposus (inner, jelly-like substance)
- Annulus Fibrosus (fibrous, surrounding layers)
Herniated disk happens when…
Nucleus Polposus “squirts” out, into the annulus fibrosus, putting pressure on the nerve root
Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (PLL)
Runs the length of the vertebral bodies (anteriorly attached to bodies, but INSIDE vertebral canal), thickest in the cervical vertebrae and thinnest in lumbar segment
Anterior Longitudinal Ligament (ALL)
Runs the length of the vertebral bodies, thickest in the lumbar vertebrae and thinnest in cervical segment
Why do we get shorter as we age?
One reason is from water loss in our intevertebral disks
Curvature shapes
Cervical: anteriorly convex
Thoracic: anteriorly concave
Lumbar: anteriorly convex
Sacral: anteriorly concave
Why is newborn’s spine fairly concave?
To allow room for the viscera
What happens when baby starts walking?
Center of gravity changes, so secondary curvatures develop
