Vertebrae, Vertebral Column Flashcards
Purpose of the body of vertebrae?
Support body weight
What is the body primarily composed of?
Spongy bone, with compact bone shell
Purpose of the trabeculae?
Arranged vertically to resist compression
Where are the epiphyseal rims located?
Superior and inferior portions on the outside of the body.
The vertebral arch is split into ______ and _______.
Pedicles and Laminas (R and L)
Are the pedicles or laminae closer to the vertebral body?
Pedicles
What are the boundaries of the vertebral foramen?
Vertebral body and arch (pedicle and laminae)
What does the vertebral foramen contain?
Spinal cord
Vertebral foramen of connecting vertebrae form what?
Vertebral canal
What are the boundaries of the intervertebral foramen?
Floor-Superior vertebral notch of pedicle
Roof-Inferior vertebral notch of pedicle
Posterior-Lamina/zygapophyseal joint
Anterior-Body/disk
What does the intervertebral foramen contain?
Spinal nerve
What are the 7 processes on the vertebrae?
(1) spinous process- project posteriorly
(2) transverse processes- project laterally
(2) superior articular processes- form 2 zygapophysial joints with inferior articulation process of vertebrae above.
(2) inferior articular processes- form 2 zygapophysial joints with superior articulation process of vertebrae below.
What is the angle between the spinous process and the transverse process called?
Gutter
What are the articulations between 2 vertebrae?
- Body to body via disk and uncovertebral joint
- R and L inferior articular facets with superior articular facets
The inferior articular process and superior articular process form what joint to help keep the vertebrae aligned? These processes also do what?
Zygapophyseal joint
Limit movement depending on angle of articular surface
Where is movement of the head performed?
C1 atlantooccipital joint + all other cervical joints
In general, the cervical is more ______.
mobile
The ____________ of the zygapophyseal joints of the cervical vertebrae allows ______________.
horizontal oriented articular surface
Flex/extension, ab/adduction, rotation
What are the identifying features of the cervical vertebrae?
- Transverse foramen
- Anterior and posterior tubercles
- grooves for spinal nerves
- uncinate process
- bifid spinous process
- vertebrae prominens
What goes through the cervical transverse foramen?
Vertebral arteries and veins
Where are the cervical anterior and posterior tubercles located?
On the transverse process
What are the muscle attachments for the anterior and posterior tubercles of the cervical vertebrae?
Scalenes and levator scapulae
The cervical tubercles together make up what?
Grooves for spinal nerves
What is the uncinate process and its function?
Elevated superior epiphyseal rim anterior and laterally (*not posterior) which allows for free flexion and extension but limits ab/adduction
The uncinate process forms what joint?
Uncovertebral joint
What is the bifid spinous process?
Forked portion of cervical spinous process at C3-C6 (*good for ID on practical)
Where is the vertebral prominens located?
Located on C7, long spinous process
C1 is known as?
Atlas, atlantooccipital joint
What does the atlas not have?
Vertebral body or spinous process
The atlas has what instead of a vertebral body?
Anterior arch
What on the lateral side of C1 contains superior and inferior articular processes? What does it do?
Lateral masses
Transmits weight from head to C2
C2 is known as?
Axis, atlantoaxial joint
Another name for the dens and its purpose.
Obontoid process
Projects superior and forms a pivot for the atlantoaxial joint around which the head rotates (no)
Purpose of the superior articular facets of the axis.
Transmits weight from lateral masses of C1 to body of C2.
What are the 4 feeds to the brain?
(2) carotid
(2) vertebral
How many thoracic vertebrae are there?
12
Which vertebrae have costal facets on their bodies to allow for a rib to articulate above and below?
T2-T9
These articulations of the ribs to the bodies of vertebae limit ________ and limit ________.
- Limit flex/extension
- Limit Ab/Adduction
Ribs also attach to the _________ _______ of the vertebrae
-Transverse process
The ribs pivot minimally at the vertebrae to allow for _________
Breathing
What are the three places where ribs attach?
Sup and Inf Vertebral body
Inf Vertebral transverse process
5
5
6
6
How many lumbar vertebrae are there?
5
Why do lumbar have massive bodies?
To support weight
Sagittal oriented T12-L1 articular processes allow what?
Flexion/extension and limited ab/adduction, but blocks rotation
Coronally oriented articular processes of inferior lumbar vertebrae allow what?
Ab/adduction and rotation, but limit flexion/extension
Sagittal oriented processes are located _______ while coronally oriented articular processes are located _______.
Superior
Inferior
What is different about L5 vertebrae?
It is the largest vertebrae
The body is higher anteriorly than posteriorly creating the lumbosacral angle
How many sacral vertebrae are there?
5 fused
What is the sacral canal and what does it house?
It is a continuation of the vertebral canal and houses the cauda equina (spinal roots)
The anterior and posterior sacral foramena serve as openings for what?
Dorsal and ventral rami of spinal nerves.
Ventral- Hip and leg muscles and dermatomes
Dorsal- dorsal dermatomes and muscles
The superior articular processes does what?
Articulates with L5 to contribute to the lumbosacral angle. (130-160 degrees)
What is the sacral promontory?
Projection of S1 into the pelvic cavity
Where is the apex of the sacrum
inferior end
Pelvic vs Dorsal surface
Pelvic- “smooth and concave”
Dorsal- “rough and convex”
The sacral crest is divided into what 3 parts?
What are these projections for?
- Median, intermediate, lateral sacral crest
- Projections are for muscle attachments
What is the hiatus?
Opening at the inferior sacrum
The sacroiliac joint is made up of what?
Lateral and anterior articular surfaces
lateral and posterior sacral tuberosity
The auricular surface is a planar synovial joint while the sacral tuberosity is a _______ joint.
syndesmosis (fibrous) joint
Why are females coccyx straight?
Birth canal
Function of the coccyx.
Anchors pelvic diaphragm
Regulates pressure
Where are intervertebral joints located?
between bodies
The IV disks are composed of what?
Annulus fibrosus and Nucleus pulposus
The IV joints account for ___ percentage of the vertebral column length.
25
A decrease length in the disk means what?
Decreased mobility
Where is the anterior longitudinal ligament and what does it do?
Runs from C1 and occipital bone to pelvic surface of sacrum, interconnecting the anterior/lateral surfaces of vertebrae
Limits extension of vertebral column
Where is the posterior longitudinal ligament and what does it do?
Runs from C2 to sacrum through the vertebral canal interconnection posterior bodies and IV disks
Limits hyperflexion
Weaker than anterior ligament
Zygapophyseal is classified as what?
Plane type synovial joint
Weak capsule
Ligaments that stabilize the zygapophyseal joint and where they are.
- Ligament flava- connects lamina
- Interspinous ligaments- connects spinous processes
- Supraspinous ligaments- on top of spinous processes
- Nuchal ligaments- connects cervical spinous processeses to occipital
- Intertransverse ligaments- connect transverse processes
All of the ligaments of the zygapophyseal joint do what?
Limit flexion because they are located posteriorly
The atlantooccipital joint is classified as what?
Condyloid type synovial joint
What does the atlantooccipital joint allow?
Flexion/extension
Anterior and posterior atlanto-occipital membranes are composed of what?
Ligaments/capsules
The atlantoaxial joint is located where?
Between C2 and C1
What are the 3 articulations that form the joint?
(2) lateral antantoaxial apophyseal joints- between superior articular processes of axis and lateral masses of atlas
(1) median atlantoaxial joint (pivot joint)
The atlantoaxial joint does what movement?
rotation
Ligaments of the atlanto-axial joint
- transverse ligament of atlas
- longitudinal bands of…
- cruciate ligament
- alar ligaments
- tectoral membrane
What is the main function of the atlanto-axial ligaments?
Mainly hold dens
Limit flexion and ab/adduction
Two joint types of the sacroiliac joint
anterior- planar, synovial joint
posterior- syndesmosis between interlocking tuberous surfaces of sacrum and ilium
Movements of the sacroiliac joint
Slight depression when weight is applied
Rotate (tilt) the coccyx posterior (out) when weight is applied
SI joint ligaments
Anterior SI ligaments-thickening of synovial joint capsule
Interosseous SI ligaments- limits all movement and transfers weight to hip
Posterior SI ligaments- big and strong shock absorbers that limit depression of sacrum and elevation of ilium
Sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments- limit posterior tilt of sacrum/coccyx
Movements of the vertebral column
Flexion/extension
Ab/adduction
Rotation
Flexion blocked by ribs
Movement of the vertebral column is limited by what?
IV disk thickness, elasticity, and compressibility
Zygapophyseal joint shape and orientation
Zygapophyseal joint capsule strength (thickness)
T or F. Movements at individual intervertebral joints are small.
True, the summation produces considerable movement
Lumbar region is set up for _______, allowing minimal _______.
Flexion and extension
Rotation
Thoracic region is set up for _______, allowing for minimal _______.
Rotation
Flexion and extension
Curvatures in the vertebral column
Cervical=lordosis
Thoracic=kyphosis
Lumbar=lordosis
Sacral=kyphosis
LKLK
Why is the spine curved?
Shock absorption
Easier to balance curved
Flexibility
Main arteries of the cervical vertebrae
vertebral and ascending cervical
Main arteries of the thoracic vertebrae
posterior intercostal arteries
Main arteries of the lumbar vertebrae
subcostal and lumbar arteries
Main arteries of the sacral vertebrae
iliolumbar and lateral and medial sacral arteries
Veins of the vertebral column
- Anterior and posterior external vertebral plexus
- Anterior and posterior internal vertebral plexus
- Basivertebral vein- drains blood from vertebral body into anterior internal and external plexus
Nerves of the vertebral column
Recurrent meningeal nerve
Articular branches from medial branches from posterior rami
