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Vertebral Column Flashcards

1
Q

What is the vertebral column?

A

Structure that extends from cranium to apex of coccyx, that forms the skeleton of neck and back and is the main part of axial skeleton

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2
Q

What is the function of the vertebral column?

A
  • Protect spinal cord and spinal nerves
  • Support weight of body superior to the pelvis
  • Provide a partly rigid and flexible axis for the body + pivot for the head
  • Important role in posture and locomotion
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3
Q

How many vertebrae constitute the vertebral column and how are they separated?

A

33; separated into 5 regions (7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, 4 coccygeal)

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4
Q

Why do vertebrae become progressively larger and where do they reach max.size?

A

Successive vertebrae bear increasing amounts of body’s weight; reach max.size superior to sacrum

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5
Q

Which are the main structures where the VC articulates?

A

Vertebrae are joined by semirigid IV discs and also articulate at “zygapophysial joints” (25)

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6
Q

Which are the two types of curvatures in the VC?

A

Primary (kyphoses): thoracic and sacral
Secondary (lordoses): cervical and lumbar

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7
Q

How are primary curvatures shaped and why?

A

Concave anteriorly; kept like that because of the difference in height within the vertebral bodies (posterior higher than anterior)

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8
Q

How are secondary curvatures shaped and why?

A

Concave posteriorly; kept like that because of the difference in thickness of IV disc (thicker anteriorly)

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9
Q

When does the cervical curvature become evident?

A

Infant begins to hold head erect

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10
Q

When does the lumbar curvature become evident?

A

When assume an upright posture and start to walk

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11
Q

What are the vertebral bodies?

A

Anterior more massive part of vertebrae that give strength to VC and support body weight

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12
Q

All of the superior and inferior surfaces of the vertebral body are covered by hyaline cartilage. True or false?

A

False. Superior and inferior surfaces are covered by hyaline cartilage, but at the periphery there is a ring of smooth bone “epiphysial rim”

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13
Q

What are the vertebral arches?

A

Posterior projections from the vertebral body, formed by pedicles and laminae

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14
Q

What are the pedicles?

A

Two short, stout processes that that join the vertebral arch to vertebral body; project posteriorly and meet with the laminae

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15
Q

What are the laminae?

A

Two broad, flat plates of bone that unite in the midline

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16
Q

What are the vertebral foramen’s walls made out of?

A

Opening made by the vertebral arch and posterior surface of vertebral body

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17
Q

What is the vertebral canal

A

Succession of vertebral foramina in the articulated column

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18
Q

What are the vertebral notches?

A

Indentations formed by projection of the body and the articular processes inferior and superior to pedicles

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19
Q

How are IV foramina formed?

A

By the combination of the superior and inferior vertebral notches of adjacent vertebrae; they give passage to spinal nerve roots

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20
Q

Which are the processes that arise from the vertebral arch how many are there of each type?

A

One median process
Two transverse processes
Four articular processes (2 superior and 2 inferior)

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21
Q

How does the median process project and where does it arise from?

A

Posteriorly (usually inferiorly); arises from the vertebral arch at the junction of laminae

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22
Q

How do the transverse processes project and where do they arise from?

A

Posterolaterally from vertebral arch at the junction of pedicles and laminae

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23
Q

How do the articular processes project and where do they arise from?

A

Superiorly and inferiorly from junction of pedicles and laminae

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24
Q

How are the articular facets related to the movement among vertebrae?

A

Direction of articular facets determines the type and range of movement permitted and restricted between adjacent vertebrae

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25
How do articular processes articulate with each other and how are these joints formed?
Through zygapophysial joints; these are synovial plane joints formed by superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae, placed in apposition
26
What are the characteristics of the vertebral body of cervical vertebrae?
- Small and wider from side to side than anteroposteriorly - Superior surface is concave between adjacent (uncinate) processes - Inferior surface is convex
27
What are the characteristics of the vertebral foramen of cervical vertebrae?
Large and triangular
28
What are the characteristics of the transverse processes of cervical vertebrae?
- Foramina transversaria (small/absent in C7) - Anterior and posterior tubercles
29
What are the characteristics of the articular processes of cervical vertebrae?
- Superior facets directed superoposteriorly - Inferior facets directed infero-anteriorly
30
What are the characteristics of the spinous processes of cervical vertebrae?
- C3-5 short and bifid - C6 long, but C7 longer (vertebra prominens)
31
What are the distinctive characteristics of the atlas (C1)?
- No spinous process or body; consists of lateral masses connected by anterior and posterior arches - Concave superior articular facets form atlanto-occipital joints with occipital condyles - Flat inferior facets meet with C2 to form lateral atlanto-axial joints
32
What are the distinctive characteristics of the axis (C2)?
- Strongest cervical vertebrae - Dens (projects superiorly from body; provides a pivot where atlas turns and carries the cranium) - Articulates anteriorly with anterior arch and posteriorly with transverse ligament of atlas
33
What are the characteristics of the vertebral body of thoracic vertebrae?
- Bears 1 or 2 bilateral costal facets for articulation w/head of rib
34
What are the characteristics of the transverse processes of thoracic vertebrae?
- Long and strong - Length diminishes T1-T12 - Extends posterolaterally - T1-T10 → transverse costal facets (articulation tubercle of rib)
35
What are the characteristics of the vertebral foramen of thoracic vertebrae?
Circular and smaller than those in C and L regions
36
What are the characteristics of the articular processes of thoracic vertebrae?
- Superior articular facets are directed posteriorly and slightly laterally - Inferior articular facets directed anteriorly slightly medially
37
What are the characteristics of the spinous processes of thoracic vertebrae?
- Long - Slope postero-inferiorly - Overlap subadjacent vertebral body
38
What are the characteristics of the vertebral body of lumbar vertebrae?
- Massive → kidney-shaped (superiorly) - Larger and heavier than other regions
39
What are the characteristics of the vertebral foramen of lumbar vertebrae?
- Triangular - Larger than thoracic and smaller than cervical
40
What are the characteristics of the transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae?
- Long and slender - Accessory process on posterior surface of base of each process
41
What are the characteristics of the articular processes of lumbar vertebrae?
- Superior articular facets directed posteromedially (or medially) - Inferior articular facets directed anterolaterally (or laterally) - Mammilary process on posterior surface e/superior process
42
What are the characteristics of the spinous processes of lumbar vertebrae?
- Short and sturdy - Hatched-shaped
43
How do vertebral bodies articulate with adjacent ones?
Through symphyses; articulating surfaces of adjacent vertebrae are connected by IV discs and ligaments
44
Function of IV dics
- Provide strong attachments between vertebral bodies - Permit movement between adjacent vertebrae - Weight bearing and strength - Shock absorbers
45
What are IV discs composed of?
Anulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposis
46
What is the anulus fibrosis composed of and what feature does it have?
Ring of concentric lamellae of fibrocartilage, run obliquely from one vertebra to another and at right angles to those adjacent ones
47
Where do the anuli insert into?
Epiphysial rims in articular surface of vertebral bodies
48
What is the nucleus pulposus and where are the most inferior and superior functional ones?
Core of IV, paced more posteriorly than centrally (lamellae are thinner and less numerous posteriorly) - L5 - S1 - No IV disc between atlas and axis
49
What happens with the anulus and nucleus when we age?
- Anulus: thickens and develops fissures and cavities - Nucleus: become dry and granular, resulting in the loose of turgor, become thin, stiffer, more resistant to deformation
50
Where are uncovertebral joints located?
At lateral and posterolateral margins of IV discs, between uncus of bodies of C3-C6 and beveled inferolateral surfaces of vertebral bodies superior to them
51
What is the main function of the joint capsule that surrounds the zygapophysial joints and where do these attach?
- Extension: attached to margins of articular surfaces of articular processes of adjacent vertebrae - Function: permit gliding movements between articular processes
52
Where is the atlanto-occipital joint located?
Between the lateral masses of C1 and occipital condyles
53
Which movement does the atlanto-occipital joint allow?
Neck flexion and extension; little lateral flexion; some rotation
54
What type of joint is the atlanto-occipital joint?
Synovial condyloid type
55
What is the main function of the posterior and anterior atlanto-occipital membranes and where do these attach?
- Extension: anterior and posterior arches of atlas to the anterior and posterior margins of foramen magnum - Function: limits flexion (posterior) and extension(anterior) of the joint)
56
How many atlanto-axial joints do we have and which are these?
3 (2 lateral atlanto-axial and one median atlanto-axial)
57
What type of joint are the lateral atlanto-axial joints and where are they located?
- Type: Plane-type of synovial - Location: Between lateral masses of C1 and superior facets of C2
58
What type of joint is the median atlanto-axial joints and where are they located?
- Type: pivot - Location: Between the dens of C2 and anterior arch and transverse ligament of atlas
59
What are the movements allowed by the atlanto-axial joints? Explain how these occur
Movement at all three permit lateral and medial rotation of the head. - C1 and cranium rotate on C2 as a unit; the dens is the pivot held in a socket formed by anterior arch and the transverse ligament posteriorly
60
What does the anterior longitudinal ligament do and where is it located?
- Function: maintains stability of IV joints and limits extension of VC - Location: covers and connects anterolateral aspect of vertebral bodies and IV discs - Extension: pelvic surface of sacrum - anterior tubercle of C1 and occipital bone, anterior to foramen magnum
61
What does the posterior longitudinal ligament do and where is it located?
- Function: limits flexion of the VC and prevents herniation of IV discs - Location: runs within the vertebral canal along posterior aspect of vertebral bodies; mainly attached to IV discs and less so to posterior aspect of vertebral bodies - Extension: occiput - sacrum
62
What does the ligamenta flava do and where is it located?
- Function: limit flexion of VC - Preserve posture - Assists with straightening the column after flexing - Prevent injury of IV discs by resisting separation of the vertebral laminae, by arresting abrupt flexion of VC - Location: from inferior surface of superior laminae to superior surface of inferior laminae of adjacent vertebral arches, form alternating sections of posterior wall of vertebral canal - Extension: C2 - Sacrum
63
What do interspinous ligaments do and where are these located?
- Function: limit flexion of thoracic and lumbar IV joints by preventing separation of spinous processes - Location: attaches the bodies of spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae - Extension: C2-S1
64
What do supraspinous ligaments do and where are these located?
- Function: limit flexion of thoracic and lumbar IV joints (same as interspinous) - Location: attaches the tips of the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae - Extension: C7-L3/4 (merges superiorly with nuchal ligament, meaning that it doesn't attach the tips of the cervical spinous processes, but it extends all the way up to the external occipital protuberance)
65
What is the function of the nuchal ligament and where is this located?
- Function: help maintain upright position of head, limit forward flexion of head and cervical spine - Location: posterior to spinous processes of cervical vertebrae and anterior to the lining supraspinous ligament - Extension: external occipital protuberance and posterior border of foramen magnum - C7 spinous process
65
What does the transverse ligament of the atlas do and where is this located?
- Function: prevent anterior displacement of C1 over C2 - Location: posterior to dens, in between the lateral masses of C1 - Extension: between the tubercles on the medial aspect of lateral masses of C1
66
What do the longitudinal bands do and and where are these located?
-Function: keep the transverse ligament in a relatively fixed location -Location: superiorly and inferiorly to the transverse ligament -Extension: from transverse ligament to occipital bone (superior) and the body of C2 (inferior)
67
What do alar ligaments do and where are these located?
- Function: attach cranium to C2 and tension limits rotation to ipsilateral sides, limit movement to contralateral side for lateral bending - Location: project superolaterally from the dens - Extension: extend from the sides of the dens to the lateral sides of the foramen magnum
68
What does the tectorial membrane do and where is this located?
- Function: limits flexion of cervical vertebrae - Location: superior continuation of posterior longitudinal ligament, across the median atlanto-axial joint through the foramen magnum - Extension: from the body of C2 to internal surface of occipital bone
69
What do intertransverse ligaments do and where are these located?
- Function: limit lateral flexion of spine - Location: extend from the tips of adjacent transverse processes
70
What is the function of the anterior and posterior atlanto-occipital membranes and where are these located?
- Function: limit extension and flexion (respectively) of cranium - Location: extend superiorly from anterior and posterior arches of C1 to the corresponding margins of foramen magnum
71
What are the apical ligaments of the dens and where are these located?
- Function: Stability to position of dens - Location: joins apex of dens to anterior margin of foramen magnum
72
Movements of the vertebral column
Flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation
73
Where does the movement between adjacent vertebrae occur?
IV discs and zygapophysial joints
74
Movements of cervical region
Flexion - extension, lateral flexion, and rotation
75
Why is flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation of the neck especially free?
- IV dics, although thin compared to others are thick relative to small size of vertebral bodies - Articular surfaces of zygapophysial joints large and joint planes almost horizontal - Joint capsules of zygapophysial joints are loose - Neck is relatively slender
76
Movements of thoracic region
Lateral flexion and rotation
77
Why is movements restricted in the thoracic region?
- IV dics thin relative to size of vertebral bodies - Stability conferred → connection to sternum (ribs + costal cartilages) - Joint planes → lie on and arch centered on vertebral body → allow rotation - Flexion & lateral flexion limitted
78
Movements of lumbar region
Flexion-extension and lateral flexion
79
Why are these movements allowed in the lumbar region?
- Lumbar region conductive to flexion and extension → sagitally oriented joint planes - Extension most marked in lumbar region (more extensive flexion) - Interlocking articular processes prevent rotation - Lateral flexion greatest
80
Where is the hyoid bone located?
Anterior part of neck at level of C3 at the angle between mandible and thyroid cartilage
81
What is the function of the hyoid bone?
Prop to keep airway open

Kin 110 (10 decks)

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