Vertebral Column Flashcards
What consist the vertebral column?
33 vertebrae (7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 fused sacral, and 4 fused coccygeal vertebrae)
Vertebral column:
__ the spinal cord,
__ the weight of the head and trunk, and
allow the movement of __ __ for __ by articulation with the ribs
protects,
supports
rib cage,
respiration
Where are the primary curvatures located and when do they develop?
located in the thoracic and sacral regions and develop during embryonic and fetal periods
Where are the secondary curvatures located and when do they develop?
located in the cervical and lumbar regions and develop after birth and during infancy
What is the shape of primary curvatures?
Kyphotic (convex)
What is the shape of secondary curvatures?
Lordotic - concave
Why do secondary curvatures develop?
Because of the increased mobility in the neck and the lower extremity as a person age
An abnormally increase thoracic curvature resulting from osteoporosis
Kyphosis (hunchback or humpback)
An abnormally increased lumbar curvature resulting from trunk muscular weakness or osteomalacia
Lordosis (swayback or saddle back)
Lateral deviation resulting from unequal growth of the vertebral column, pathologic erosion of vertebral bodies, or asymmetric paralysis or weakness of vertebral muscles
Scoliosis
Who often experiences lordosis?
pregnant women
Form the secondary cartilaginous joints between the bodies of two vertebrae from the axis to the sacrum.
Intervertebral Disk
Intervertebral Disk serves as a cushion between the vertebrae, to __ __ and to allow __ __
prevent too much friction
minimal mobility
Is there a disk between atlas and axis?
No
What vertebra have intervertebral disks?
axis to sacrum
Which is the collagenous part of intervertebral disk and how is it located?
Anulus fibrosus
More peripherally located
Which is the colloid part of intervertebral disk and how is it located?
Nucleus pulposus Located centrally
Consists of a body and a vertebral arch with several processes for muscular and articular attachments.
Typical Vertebra
A short cylinder, supports weight, and is separated and also bound together by the intervertebral disks, forming the cartilaginous joints.
Body
What structures do the body have that serves as attachment for ribs?
Costal facets / processes of thoracic vertebrae
How is the vertebral body and vertebral arch located?
vertebral body - anterior
vertebral arch - posterior
Generative change due to osteoarthritis of the vertebral joints of the vertebral column
Spondylosis
there’s a break in the pars interarticularis but no dislocation
Spondylolysis
a forward displacement of one vertebra over another, usually of the fifth lumbar over the body of the sacral 1 (S1), or of the fourth lumbar over the fifth; it is usually due to a development defect or traumatic fracture of the pedicle, lamina, or facets (pars interarticularis).
Spondylolisthesis
Results from the softening and collapse of the vertebrae, often causing thoracic kyphosis.
Pott disease
Osteoarthritis of vertebral column
Spondylosis
Tuberculosis of the spine
Pott disease (tuberculosis spondylitis)
What consists the vertebral (neural) arch?
paired pedicles
paired laminae
What structures house the spinal cord?
Vertebral arch together with the vertebral body
What do vertebral (neural) arch form with the body?
vertebral foramen
a developmental anomaly characterized by defective closure of the vertebral arch associated with maternal folic acid deficiency
Spina bifida
What is exposed in spina bifida?
spinal cord
What is not formed in spina bifida?
spinous process
- internal
Presentation outside: tufts of hair
Spina bifida occulta
- meninges
Presentation outside: fluid-like
Meningocele
worst presentation and prognosis
- Meningomyelocele/
myelomeningocele
Why is myelomeningocele the worst presentation and prognosis?
Spinal cord is already protruding
Projects posteriorly from the junction of two laminae of the vertebral arch
Spinous Process
What is the orientation of the spinous process in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions?
Bifid in the cervical region,
spine-like in the thoracic region, and
oblong in the lumbar region
Project laterally on each side from the junction of the pedicle and the lamina
Transverse Processes
What do the transverse processes articulate with in the thoracic region?
tubercles of ribs 1 to 10
What foramina does the cervical region have?
transverse foramina
Two superior and two inferior projections from the junction of the laminae and pedicles
Articular Processes (Facets)
What do the articular processes that articulate with the articular processes (facets) above or below form?
plane synovial joints
Tubercles on the superior articular processes of the lumbar vertebrae.
Mamillary Processes
Project backward from the base of the transverse process and lateral and inferior to the mamillary process of a lumbar vertebra.
Accessory Processes
Collectively form the vertebral canal and transmit the spinal cord with its meningeal coverings, nerve roots, and associated vessels.
Vertebral Foramina
What forms the vertebral foramina?
vertebral bodies and vertebral arches (pedicles and laminae)
Transmit the spinal nerves and accompanying vessels as they exit the vertebral canal.
Intervertebral Foramen
Where is the Intervertebral Foramen located?
Located between the inferior and superior (vertebral notch) surfaces of the pedicles of adjacent vertebrae
Transmit the (vertebral vessels) vertebral artery (except for C7), vertebral veins, and autonomic nerves.
Transverse Foramina
Where is Transverse Foramina present?
Present in transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae.
Which cervical vertebra are typical and which are atypical?
typical - C3-C6
atypical - C1, C2, C7
Which structure is unique to the cervical vertebra?
transverse foramen
What is the function of the atlas?
Supports the skull
What characterizes the atlas?
Has no body and no spine but consists of anterior and posterior arches and two lateral masses
Atlas articulates superiorly with the occipital condyles of the skull to form?
atlantooccipital joints
What movement does atlantooccipital joints do?
“Yes” joint (nodding)
Which structure is unique to the axis?
dens (odontoid process)
What is the widest of the cervical vertebrae?
Atlas
What has the smallest transverse process?
Axis
which projects superiorly from the body of the axis and articulates with the anterior arch of the atlas, forming the pivot around which the atlas routes?
dens (odontoid process)
Atlas articulates inferiorly with the axis to form?
atlantoaxial joints
What movement does AO joints do?
“No” joint
What is the reason for the rotation of the head?
Atlantoaxial Joint/ Atlas and Axis Articulation
What ligaments support the dens?
cruciform,
apical, and
alar ligaments and
the tectorial membrane.
What comprises the cruciform ligament?
Superior longitudinal fibers
Transverse ligament of atlas
inferior longitudinal fibers
Occurs by strong vertical forces as would result from a blow to the top of the head or striking the bottom of a shallow pool in diving accident
Jefferson fracture
Which vertebra is the Jefferson fracture?
Atlas
Occur as a result of hyperextension injury of the head
Hangman fracture
Which vertebra is the Hangman fracture?
Axis
Called the vertebra prominens
C7 - seventh cervical vertebra
What do the C7 provide?
an attachment site for the ligament nuchae, supraspinous ligaments, and numerous backmuscles
Have a transverse processes that articulates with the tubercle of the corresponding rib.
Thoracic Vertebrae
What do the superior costal facet on the body articulates with?
head of the corresponding rib
What do the inferior costal facet on the body articulates with?
subjacent rib
Which are the typical thoracic vertebrae and which are the atypical?
typical - T2-T8
atypical - T1, T9, T10, T11, T12
What structures are unique to thoracic vertebra?
Superior and inferior costal facets
What structures serves as attachment of rib?
Facet of the transverse process
costal facet
To which vertebral body is the body of thoracic vertebra bigger?
body of cervical vertebra
where do tubercle of rib attach?
Transverse Process costal facet
Why is T1 atypical?
Because the costal facet for T1 is complete.
complete costal facet on pedicle and body; may have costal facet on transverse process
T10
costal facet on each pedicle; no costal facets on transverse processes
T11, T12
What are Rib 11 and 12?
floating ribs
- These have no attachments anteriorly and posteriorly on transverse processes
Distinguished by their large bodies (kidney-shaped), sturdy laminae, and absence of costal facets.
Lumbar Vertebrae
What has the largest body of vertebrae?
L5
Which are typical lumbar vertebra and which are atypical?
typical - L1-L4
atypical - L5
What is the shape of the vertebral foramen of lumbar vertebrae and to what is it bigger or smaller?
Triangular
bigger than in thoracic vertebrae
smaller than in cervical vertebrae
Where is mamillary process located and its function?
superior articular process
Serves as an attachment of back muscles in lumbar region
Where is accessory process located?
transverse process
A large, triangular, wedge-shaped bone composed of five fused sacral vertebrae.
Sacrum
Sacrum forms the __ part of the pelvis and provides strength and __ __ __.
posterior
stability to pelvis
The prominent anterior edge of the first sacral vertebra
Promontory
The superior and lateral part of the sacrum, which is formed by the fused transverse processes and fused costal processes of the first sacral vertebra
Ala
Formed by the fused spinous processes
Median sacral crest
Formed by the failure of the laminae of the vertebra S5 to fuse.
Sacral hiatus
Formed by the pedicles of the fifth sacral vertebra. It is an important landmark for locating the sacral hiatus.
Sacral cornu or horn
It is used for the administration of caudal (extradural) anesthesia.
sacral hiatus
Comprise one-fourth (25%) of the length of the vertebral column.
Intervertebral Disk
True or false:
Intervertebral Disks are avascular.
true
How to Intervertebral Disk act as a shock absorber?
by equalizing pressure
A remnant of embryonic notochord and is situated in the central portion of the intervertebral disk
Nucleus Pulposus
Nucleus Pulposus may __ or protrude through the annulus fibrosus, thereby impinging on the roots of the spinal nerve.
herniate
Consists of concentric layers of fibrous tissue and fibrocartilage which binds the vertebral column together, retains the nucleus pulposus, and permits a limited amount of movement
Annulus Fibrosus
Protrusion of the nucleus pulposus, which can exert pressure on the surrounding neural structure, hence, pain
Herniated (slipped) disk
What are the most common locations of herniated disk?
between L4 & L5
between L5 & S1
Runs from the skull (occipital bone) to the sacrum on the anterior surface of the vertebral bodies and intervertebral disks.
Anterior Longitudinal Ligament (ALL)
Interconnects the vertebral bodies and intervertebral disks posteriorly and narrows as it descends
Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (PLL)
Connects the laminae of the two adjacent vertebrae and functions to maintain the upright posture
Ligamentum Flavum
A triangular-shaped median fibrous septum between the muscles on the two sides of the posterior aspect of the neck
Ligamentum Nuchae (Back of Neck)
(between two adjacent spinous processes) ligament
interspinous ligament
(between two adjacent transverse processes) ligament
intertransverse ligament
(between tips of two adjacent spinous processes) ligaments
supraspinous ligament
