VERTEBRAE & PECTORAL GRIDLE

Question 1

TOTAL NUMBER OF BONES IN VERTEBRAL COLUMN

Answer 1

INFANT= 33-34 BONES
ADULT 26 BONES

Question 2

CERVICAL VERTEBRAE

Answer 2

Cervical vertebrae are the smallest of the vertebral types.
 They contain transverse foramina, which allow passage of the
vertebral arteries.
 Atlas ‐ Cl modified to articulate with the occipital condyle, does not have a spinous process or body
 Axis ‐ C2 ‐ acts as a pivot as in turning head from side to side, gesturing “no”. has a dens or odontoid process. The transverse ligament holds the dens in position against the atlas so that
rotation can occur.
 C7 is called the vertebrae prominens since it is easily palpable.
 All the cervical spinous processes are bifid except C7.

Question 3

ATLAS-C1

Answer 3

modified to articulate with the occipital condyle, does
not have a spinous process or body
-CERVICAL VERTEBRAE

Question 4

Axis ‐ C2

Answer 4

acts as a pivot as in turning head from side to side,
gesturing “no”. has a dens or odontoid process. The transverse
ligament holds the dens in position against the atlas so that
rotation can occur
-CERVICAL VERTEBRAE

Question 5

C7

Answer 5

called the vertebrae prominens since it is easily palpable.
 All the cervical spinous processes are bifid except C7.
-CERVICAL VERTEBRAE

Question 6

THORACIC VERTEBRAE

Answer 6

Articulate with the ribs
 These vertebrae are larger than cervical but smaller than lumbar vertebrae
 Have elongated transverse processes for articulation with the ribs.
 Have elongated downward pointing spinous processes

Question 7

LUMBAR VERTEBRAE

Answer 7

These are the largest and strongest individual vertebrae.
 The spinous process points straight out rather than downward and in general are blunt, large processes
 L4 and L5 allow the most motion.
 Most disk injuries occur between L4‐L5 and L5‐S1, the area of the lumbosacral junction.
 Since the lumbar vertebrae bear the most weight, a compression injury to the vertebrae or to the intervertebral discs most often occurs in this region.

Question 8

SACRAL VERTEBRAE

Answer 8

5 bones fused into one unit. Usually fused by ages 25‐30.
 Sacral nerves exit through the foramen while the filum terminale continues down through the sacral canal to anchor at the coccyx.
 The sacrum is wedged between the iliac bones i.e. sacroiliac
joint.

Question 9

COCCYX

Answer 9

3‐5 bones (most commonly 4) fused into one unit.
 Commonly called the tailbone.

Question 10

BODY

Answer 10

Rounded weight bearing portion of the vertebra, faces anterior in
the spinal column
-STRUCTURE OF THE INDIVIDUAL VERTEBRAE

Question 11

VERTEBRAL FORAMEN (NEURAL CANAL)

Answer 11

Large opening in the vertebra in which the spinal cord passes
through
-STRUCTURE OF INDIVIDUAL VERTEBRAE

Question 12

PEDICLES

Answer 12

Between the lamina and the body
 Short bony pillars projecting posteriorly from the body.
 Together with the lamina, form the vertebral arch
-STRUCTURE OF INDIVIDUAL VERTEBRAE

Question 13

LAMINAE

Answer 13

Flattened plates and complete the vertebral arch posteriorly
-STRUCTURE OF THE INDIVIDUAL VERTEBRAE

Question 14

TRANSVERSE PROCESSES

Answer 14

Two lateral projections, for muscle attachment
-STRUCTURE OF INDIVIDUAL VERTEBRAE

Question 15

SPINOUS PROCESS

Answer 15

Single projection, projects posteriorly.
 Can be felt under skin as ‘backbone.’
 For muscle attachment
-STRUCTURE OF INDIVIDUAL VERTEBRAE

Question 16

TRANSVERSE FORAMEN

Answer 16

Observed only in cervical vertebrae
 Provide passage for the vertebral artery and vein (going to and from the brain)
-STRUCTURE OF INDIVIDUAL VERTEBRAE

Question 17

SUPERIOR ARTICULATING PROCESS

Answer 17

has a site called the superior articulating facet that articulates with
the inferior articulating facet of the vertebra superior to it
-STRUCTURE OF INDIVIDUAL VERTEBRAE

Question 18

INFERIOR ARTICULATING PROCESS

Answer 18

has a site called the inferior articulating facet that articulates with
the superior articulating facet of the vertebra inferior to it
o The superior and inferior articulating facets join together (articulate) and create the
intervertebral foreman in which the spinal pass through. You can see this on the
models in the lab
-STRUCTURE OF INDIVIDUAL VERTEBRAE

Question 19

INTERVERTEBRAL DISCS

Answer 19

Fibrocartilaginous discs between two vertebrae
 It is essentially a fluid, malleable, cushion between vertebrae
 Not present between atlas and axis
Not present between the sacral and coccygeal bones
 ¼ length of vertebral column above the sacrum
-STRUCTURE OF INDIVIDUAL VERTEBRAE

Question 20

RIB CAGE

Answer 20

The ribs have heads with 2 facets for articulating with the thoracic vertebrae.
2. 7 pairs of true ribs ‐ attached by costal cartilage to the sternum
3. 3 pairs of false ribs ‐ attached by costal cartilage to costal cartilage of the 7th rib
4. 2 pairs of floating ribs ‐ the inferior 2 pairs of ribs. Do not attach anteriorly.
6. The space between the ribscan be increased during surgery by rib spreaders since the ribs and the costal cartilage are somewhat flexible. If more space is required, the cartilages are cut against the sternum and the entire sternum can be folded out of the way. Once repositioned, the cartilages are reunited by scar tissue and the ribs heal quite quickly.
8. The 3rd to the 7th ribs are fractured more frequently since they are more exposed.
9. If a rib is fractured and makes a hole into the pleural cavity, it causes a pneumothorax

Question 21

INTERCOSTAL SPACES

Answer 21

between the ribs and filled with intercostal muscles (external
and internal intercostals), intercostal nerves go to these muscles which are involved
with respiration.

Question 22

COSTA

Answer 22

MEANS RIBS

Question 23

STERNUM

Answer 23

The sternum, commonly referred to as the breastbone, is three bones fused together into one flat bone.
The sternum is attached to the first seven pairs of ribs via costal cartilage.

Question 24

SUPRASTERNAL NOTCH/JUGULAR NOTCH

Answer 24

ON THE MANUBRIUM
-STERNUM

Question 25

MANUBRIUM OF STERNUM

Answer 25

he uppermost bone of the sternum at which one head of the
sternocleidomastoid muscle originates,
 attachment for costal cartilage of ribs l and 2
-STERNUM

Question 26

STERNAL ANGLE

Answer 26

unction between the manubrium and the body of the sternum
 where the 2nd costal cartilage attaches to the sternum
-STERNUM

Question 27

BODY OF THE STERNUM

Answer 27

BETWEEN THE MANUBRIUM AND THE XIPHOID PROCESS
-STERNUM

Question 28

XIPHOID PROCESS

Answer 28

iphos means “sword”
 used as a landmark in CPR ‐ do compressions above this to avoid breaking it and
creating a spear of bone that can severely damage the liver
-STERNUM

Question 29

CLAVICLE

Answer 29

Commonly called the collarbone
 serves as attachment for one head of the sternocleidomastoid muscle
 this is the most commonly fractured bone because it is in a superficial location and body weight is transferred to it when the arms are outstretched to break a fall.
Landmarks include
1. acromial end: flattened lateral end , articulates with the acromion of the scapula to form the acromioclavicular (AC) joint).
2. sternal end –medial end that articulates with the sternum. This end is oval or triangular in shape

Question 30

PECTORAL GIRDLE

Answer 30

The pectoral girdle is commonly referred as the shoulder girdle. Each shoulder girdle consists of two bones: the clavicle and the scapula. The shoulder girdle is an attachment site for many muscles, it is important to learn the landmarks of these bones

Question 31

SCAPULA

Answer 31

Commonly called the shoulder blade
 Fifteen paired muscles attach to the scapula

Question 32

SPINE OF SCAPULA

Answer 32

RIDGE OF BONE ON THE POSTERIOR SURFACE

Question 33

SUPRASPINOUS FOSSA

Answer 33

a depression located superior to the spine of the scapula.
 supraspinatus muscle originates here

Question 34

INFRASPINOUS FOSSA

Answer 34

a depression located inferior to the spine of the scapula.
 infraspinatus muscle originates here

Question 35

ACROMION

Answer 35

the lateral end of the spine of the scapula.
 Akron = ‘tip’ and omos= ‘shoulder’
 Bony landmark of shoulder.
 Articulates with clavicle to form the ____________ joint.
 The trapezoid and deltoid muscles attach here

Question 36

GLENOID CAVITY/GLENOID FOSSA

Answer 36

a shallow cavity in which the head of the
humerus articulates.
 Because it is shallow compared to the deeper acetabulum of the pelvis, the humerus
dislocates more easily than the femur. Also there are stronger ligaments and tendons to
support the femur in the acetabulum
-SCAPULAR LANDMARK

Question 37

CORACOID PROCESS

Answer 37

hook‐like projection above the glenoid cavity
 Biceps Brachii attaches here
-SCAPULAR LANDMARK

Question 38

LATERAL OR AXILLARY BORDER

Answer 38

BORDER CLOSET TO THE ARMPIT (AXILLARY REGION)
-SCAPULAR LANDMARK

Question 39

MEDIAL OR VERTEBRAL BORDER

Answer 39

RUNS ROUGHLY PARALLEL TO VERTEBRAL COLUMN
-SCALPULAR LANDMARK

Question 40

SUPERIOR ANGLE

Answer 40

SUPERIOR ROUNDED PORTION OF THE SCAPULA
-LANDMARK OF SCAPULA

Question 41

INFERIOR ANGLE

Answer 41

INFERIOR ROUNDED PORTION OF THE SCAPULA

Question 42

SCAPULAR NOTCH

Answer 42

the suprascapular nerve, a branch from C5, C6 goes through
here. With traction injury, this nerve may be damaged, and person is unable to
abduct that arm.

Question 43

SUPRAGLENOID TUBERCLE

Answer 43

prominence above the glenoid fossa
 Long head of the biceps brachii attaches here
-SCAPULAR LANDMARK

Question 44

INFRAGLENOID TUBERCLE

Answer 44

prominence below the glenoid fossa
 Attachment site for the triceps brachii
-SCALPULAR LANDMARK