Vertebrae Flashcards

1
Q

what are the 5 regions of the vertebral column?

A
  • 7 cervical
  • 12 thoracic
  • 5 lumbar
  • 5 sacral
  • 4 coccygeal
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2
Q

which vertabrae are fused to form what structures in adults?

A
  • the 5 sacral vertebrae are fused in adults to form the sacrum
  • the 4 coccygeal vertebrae are fused to form the coccyx
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3
Q

what are the structural differences of the vertebrae in different regions related to?

A
  • the size/structure is related to how much body weight they need to carry
  • ie the vertebrae reach the max size towards the sacrum
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4
Q

what is the lumbosacral angle?

A

this is located at the junction of the lumbar region of the vertebral colum and sacrum

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5
Q

what are the 2 main curvatures of the spine?

A
  • thoracic and sacral curvatures - Kyphoses - concaves anteriorly
  • cervical & lumbarcurvatures (lordoses) concave posteriorly
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6
Q

what are primary curvatures?

give example

A

curvatures that develop during the fetal period
eg thoracic and sacral

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7
Q

why is the presacral region of the vertebral column so flexible?

A

consists of vertebrae that are joined together via intervertebral (IV) discs

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8
Q

what does a typical vertebrae consist of?

A
  • vertebral body
  • vertebral arch
  • 7 processes
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9
Q

what is the function of the vertebral body?

A
  • gives strength to the vertebral column & supports body weight
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10
Q

what is the vertebral arch formed from?

A

the left and right pedicles & lamina

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11
Q

what are the pedicles?

A

they are short, stout processes that join the vertebral arch to the vertebral body

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12
Q

what do the pedicles project posteriorly to come into contact with?

A

they project posteriorly to come into contact with laminae ( 2 broad pieces of flat bone)

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13
Q

what does the **succession of the vertebral foramen form **& what does it contain ?

A

forms the **vertebral canal **- which contains the spinal cord, meninges, spinal nerve roots and vessels

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14
Q

what are the vertebral notches?

A

they are indentations formed by the projection of the body & articular processes

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15
Q

what 7 processes arise from the vertebral arch of a typical vertebra?

A
  • one median spinous process projects posteriorly
  • 2 transverse processes projecting posterolaterally
  • 4 articular processes - 2 superior & two inferior
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16
Q

what do the 4 articular processes contain?

A

an **articular surface - facet **

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17
Q

what do the spinous process & 2 transverse processes provide attachment for?

A
  • they project from the vertebral arch and provide attachments for deep back muscles - serving as levers in moving the vertebrae
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18
Q

which are the atypical vs typical vertebrae of the cervical region of the vertebral column?

A
  • atypical - **C1 (atlas) **& C2 (Axis) AND C7
  • typical - C3-C6
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19
Q

Describe the regional characteristics of the typical cervical vertebrae

ie C3-C6

A
  • small and wide vertebral body
  • large and traingular vertebral foramen
    also have transverse foramina
  • superior facets directed superoposteriorly
  • IV discs are thick
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20
Q

what is the function of the cervical region?

A

supports the weight of the head

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21
Q

Describe the characteristics of C1 (atlas)

A
  • no spinous process & no body
  • ring like
22
Q

what does the concave superior articular facet of C1 articulate with & as a result what joint does these 2 structures form?

A
  • articulates with the occipital condyle
  • called the atlantooccipital joint
23
Q

what does the inferior articular facet of the C1 vertebrae articulate with ? and what joint does it form as a result?

A
  • articulates with the superior facet of C2 (the axis)
  • forms the atlantoaxial joint
24
Q

Describe the characteristics of C2 (axis)

A
  • strongest cervical vertebra
  • has a distinctive ‘dens’ or the otontoid process
  • the spinous process attaches to the nuchal ligament - a unique ligament in the cervical spine
25
Q

what 2 cervical vertebrae contribute to 50% of cervical rotation?

A
  • C1 - atlas
  • C2 - axis
26
Q

what is occipitalisation of the atlas?

A
  • abnormality that occurs at the base of the skull
  • results in a narrower foramen magnum
  • therefore can compress the spinal cord or brain stem
27
Q

what are the regional characteristics of the thoracic vertebrae?

A
  • body is larger
  • smaller vertebral foamen
  • spinous process is long and fairly thick
    they contain articular facets for the ribs
28
Q

Describe the regional characteristics of the lumbar vertebrae

A
  • largest body
  • the spinous process is large and blunt
  • missing articular facets for ribs
    1 vertebral foramen
29
Q

what is spina bifida?

A
  • congenital disorder
  • the laminae of L5 and or S1 fail to develop normally and fuse
30
Q

what are IV discs & what is their function?

A
  • they are strong attachments between vertebral bodies that permit movement between adjacent vertebrae
  • also act as shock absorbes
31
Q

what are zygopophysial joints?

A

joinst between the superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae

32
Q

what is a clinical point about the uncovertebral joints?

A
  • they are frequent sites of spur formation (projecting processes of bone) - causing neck pain
33
Q

what is the anterior longitudinal ligament?

A
  • a strong, broad, fibrous band that covers & connects the anterolateral aspects of the vertebral bodies and IV discs
34
Q

what are the 2 parts of the anterior longitudinal ligament?

A
  • superficial - bridge between vertebrae
  • deep - short, between each vertebrae
35
Q

what is the posterior longitudinal ligament ?

A
  • much** narrower and somewhat weaker band** than the ALL
  • the ligament runs** within the vertebral canal** along the posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies
  • from C2- sacrum
  • the** short fibres attach to the IV disc**
36
Q

what are the 3 accessory ligaments of the vertebral column?

A
  1. interspinous ligament
  2. intertransverse ligament
  3. ligamentum flavum
37
Q

Describe the ligamenta flava

structure, function

A
  • yellow elastic fibrous tissue
  • connects laminae of the adjacent vertebrae
  • helps to preserve posture
    travels from C2-sacrum
38
Q

Describe the intertransverse ligament along the different regions of the spine

ie cervical, thoracic, and lumbar

A
  • cervical - scattered / irregular fibres
  • thoracic- form more distinct bands - blend with muscle
  • lumbar - well developed but thin
39
Q

what is the transverse ligament?

A
  • located in the atlas
  • strong band anchoring dens to ring of atlas
  • provides C1 and C2 with stability
40
Q

Describe the cruciate ligament

A
  • together the transverse ligament and the longitudinal bands form the cruciate ligament
41
Q

Describe the atlanto-occipital joint

A
  • located between the **lateral masses of C1 (atlas) and the occipital condyles **
  • permit nodding of the head
  • ie flexion and extension of the head
42
Q

Describe the atlanto-axial joint

A
  • there are 3 joints
  • 2 median AAJ for rotation movement
  • 1 lateral AAJ for gliding movement
43
Q

what is a jefferson fracture?

A
  • fracture of C1
  • main mechanism is by placing a bar or weight on shoulders
44
Q

what are odontoid fractures?

A
  • fractures of C2
  • mainly due to trauma
  • unstable fracture - may need surgical intervention
  • can happen via hyperextension, hyperflexion etc
45
Q

what is hangmans fracture?

A
  • bilateral fracture of C2
  • common mechanism - hyperextension, axial loading , contact sports etc
46
Q

what is a clinical marker of C spine trauma?

A

prevertebral soft tissue swelling (PSTS)

47
Q

what blood vessels are the vertebrae supplied by?

think of layers of dura matter - outer layer name

A
  • the periosteal and equatorial branches of the major cervical and segmental arteries and their spinal branches
48
Q

what are the 2 spinal venous plexus’ ?

A
  • internal vertebral epidural venous plexus
  • external vertebral venous plexus
49
Q

what are the basivertebral veins?

A
  • form within the vertebral bodies, emerge from the foramina and drain into both venous plexuses
50
Q

what is the vertebral column innervated by?

A
  • meningeal branches of the spinal nerves
  • some of the meningeal branches run back into the IV foramen (recurrent) and some dont
  • the ones that stay outside the canal innervate the ALL
  • recurrent branches supply the ligamenta flava etc
51
Q

describe the arterial supply of the vertebrae

A

-anterior spinal artery
-posterior spinal arteries - x2
-segmental arteries

52
Q
A