Vertebrae and the Vertebral Column

Question 1

How many vertebrae are there in total?

Answer 1

33 (+/-1)

Question 2

Name the 5 different regions of the spine and the number of vertebrae in each

Answer 2

Cervical - 7
Thoracic - 12
Lumbar - 5
Sacral - 5 (fused)
Coccygeal - 4 (fused)

Question 3

What are the four nerves in the vertebral column?

Answer 3

Cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral

Question 4

Define ‘kyphosis’

Answer 4

excessive outward curvature of the spine

Question 5

Define ‘lordosis’

Answer 5

excessive inward curvature of the spine

Question 6

Describe what is meant by the ‘primary curves’ of the spine

Answer 6

thoracic and sacral kyphosis are the primary curves of the spine as the are obtained during foetal development and these bend outwards and there is little movement possible between the vertebra here.

Question 7

Describe what is meant by the ‘secondary curves’ of the spine

Answer 7

cervical and lumbar lordosis curve inwards and become obvious in infancy when baby starts to hold it’s own head and walk

Question 8

What is scoliosis?

Answer 8

Crooked or curved back

Question 9

What is flat back syndrome?

Answer 9

Pelvis tilts backwards and pulls vertebral column flat

Question 10

Describe the structure of cervical vertebrae

Answer 10

Smallest of vertebra and have a foramen in the transverse processes to allow the passage of vertebral arteries

Question 11

What is notable about C1?

Answer 11

this is known as the atlas and it is a ring-shaped bone without a vertebral body

Question 12

What is notable about C2?

Answer 12

this is known as the axis and it is the strongest of the cervical vertebra and it has a dens around which the atlas rotates, and it also has no vertebral body

Question 13

Describe the structure of thoracic vertebrae

Answer 13

has costal facets which allow articulation with the ribs and has a long spinous process (shorter than in lumbar vertebra) and a circular foramen

Question 14

Describe the structure of the lumbar vertebrae

Answer 14

They have the largest bodies and have sturdy laminae as well as pointy transverse processes

Question 15

Describe the structure of the sacral vertebrae

Answer 15

This is a fused, large triangular wedge of bone (5 vertebra)

Question 16

Describe the structure of the coccygeal vertebrae

Answer 16

coccyx is a small triangular bone consisting of 4 fused vertebrae

Question 17

What is meant by the ‘vertebral body’?

Answer 17

the anterior portion gives strength to the vertebral column and supports body weight and they get larger as you go down the column and body weight grows

Question 18

What is meant by the ‘vertebral arch’?

Answer 18

this consists of the right and left pedicles meeting two broad and flat plates of bone known as the laminae. The vertebral arch and the posterior vertebral body for the vertebral foramen through which the spinal cord passes

Question 19

What is meant by the ‘spinous process’?

Answer 19

the most posterior part of the vertebrae which points out to the back, and is a bony protuberance

Question 20

What is meant by the ‘transverse processes’?

Answer 20

These are two bony protuberances which display to the sides of the vertebra (bilateral)

Question 21

What is meant by the ‘articular processes’?

Answer 21

These are the parts of bone that join directly on to the vertebral body, and act to form the vertebral foramen