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Anatomy - Year One > Vertebral Column > Flashcards

Vertebral Column Flashcards

1
Q

What is the vertebral column?

A

The vertebral column (spine or backbone) is a curved structure composed of bony vertebrae that are interconnected by cartilaginous intervertebral discs.

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2
Q

Where does the spinal cord run?

A

From the bottom of the brain stem (medulla oblongata) and ends in the lower back, forming the conus medullaris.

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3
Q

How many vertebrae make up the spinal cord?

A

33

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4
Q

What are the regions of the spine?

A

Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar
Sacral
Coccygeal

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5
Q

How do the sizes of the vertebrae change throughout the spinal cord?

A

The further down the spinal cord you go, the larger the vertebrae get

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6
Q

What are the features of a typical vertebra?

A

Spinous process
Transverse process
Vertebral arch - lamina and pedicle
Vertebral body
Articular facets

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7
Q

What are the features of a cervical vertebra?

A

Unique: foramen transversarium in each transverse process

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8
Q

What are the features of a thoracic vertebra?

A

Unique: costal facetes

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9
Q

What are the features of the lumbar vertebra?

A

Unique: mammillary process, accessory process

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10
Q

What is the function of the presence of a foramen in each transverse process in the cervical vertebra?

A

Give passage to the vertebral artery

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11
Q

What is the function of the presence of costal facets in the lumbar vertebra?

A

A costal facet is a site of connection between a rib and a vertebra.

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12
Q

What is the function of the mammillary and accessory process of the lumbar vertebra?

A

Muscle attachment

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13
Q

What movements do the articular facets of the cervical vertebra permit and how are they orientated?

A

Orientated upwards

Allows flexion, extension, lateral flexion to the right, lateral flexion to the left

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14
Q

What movements do the articular facets of the thoracic vertebra permit and how are they orientated?

A

Orientated almost posteriolaterally

Allow left and right rotation

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15
Q

What movements do the articular facets of the lumbar vertebra permit and how are they orientated?

A

Orientated sagitally

Allows flexion and extension

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16
Q

What type of vertebrae restricts flexion and extension of the spine?

A

The thoracic vertebra

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17
Q

What are the functions of the vertebral column?

A

Weight bearing
Protection
Movement
Site of muscle attachment for muscles from all over the body

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18
Q

What is the main function of vertebral bodies?

A

Weight bearing - carriers and transmits weight from the upper body down to the lower body

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19
Q

What aspect of the vertebral column help with shock absorption?

A

Curvatures and intervertebral discs

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20
Q

How would you describe the shape of a foetal spine?

A

Concave anteriorly like a C shape

21
Q

How many curvatures are in the adult spine?

A

4

22
Q

What are the four curvatures of the adult spine?

A

Cervical lordosis - concave anteriorly

Thoracic kyphosis - concave posteriorly

Lumbar lordosis - concave anteriorly

Sacrococcygeal kyphosis - concave anteriorly

23
Q

What are the primary curvatures of the vertebral column?

A

Thoracic and sacral kyphoses which are present in the fetus

24
Q

What are the secondary curvatures of the vertebral column?

A

Cervical and lumbar lordoses which develop during infancy

25
Q

When does the cervical lordosis develop?

A

When a child begins to hold up their head

26
Q

When does the lumbar lordosis develop?

A

When a child begins to walk

27
Q

What are abnormal curvatures?

A

Excessive thoracic kyphosis - osteoporosis

Excessive lumbar lordosis - pregnancy

Scoliosis - lateral bending of vertebral column

28
Q

What is the purpose of the intervertebral disc?

A

Shock absoprtion

29
Q

What are the two structures that make up an intervertebral disc?

A

Annulus fibrous - outside layer

Nucleus pulposus - inside layer

30
Q

How would you describe the structure of the intervertebral disc?

A

Central core with high water content surrounded by layers of fibrocartilage

31
Q

What is a herniated disc?

A

If there is damage or injury at annulus fibrosus or at the poster longitudinal ligament, the nucleus pulposus can be herniated.

This can cause compression on the spinal nerve, leading to back or spine pain.

32
Q

What is the most common direction of intervertebral disc herniation?

A

Posterolateral

33
Q

What does the vertebral column protect?

A

Various structures inside the vertebral canal such as:

Spinal cord
Spinal nerves
Arteries and veins

34
Q

What movements does the vertebral column allow?

A

Extension, flexion

Lateral flexion, lateral extension

Rotation of the head and neck, rotation of the upper trunk

35
Q

What are the overall joints of the vertebral column?

A

Intervertebral joints
Facet joints
Costovertebral joint
Atlantooccipital joint
Atlantoaxial joint

36
Q

What do intervertebral joints connect and what type of joints are they?

A

The intervertebral joints connect directly adjacent vertebrae of the vertebral column.

It is a fused, fibrocartilaginous symphysis.

37
Q

What do facet joints connect and what type of joints are they?

A

Connect the superior and inferior articular facets of the vertebrae

It is a plane synovial joint.

38
Q

What are the two types of costovertebral joints?

A

Costocorporeal joints
Costotransverse joints

39
Q

What do costocorporeal joints connect and what type of joints are they?

A

The heads of the ribs with the sides of one, or two adjacent vertebral bodies - aka joints of the head of the rib.

It is a synovial plane joint.

40
Q

What do costotransverse joints connect and what type of joints are they?

A

the necks and tubercles of the ribs with the transverse processes of their corresponding thoracic vertebra.

It is a synovial plane joint.

41
Q

What does the atlantooccipital joint connect and what type of joint is it?

A

A paired symmetrical articulation between the cervical spine (C1 aka atlas) and the base of the skull.

(also known as the C0-C1 joint)

It is a synovial condyloid joint (aka synovial ellipsoidal joint)

42
Q

What does the atlantoaxial joint connect and what type of joint is it?

A

This joint connects the first and second cervical vertebrae, also known as the atlas and axis, respectively.

It is a synovial pivot joint.

43
Q

What are the important ligaments of the vertebral column?

A

Ligamentum flava
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Anterior longitudinal ligament
Interspinous ligament
Supraspinous ligament

44
Q

What ligament prevents overextension of the vertebral column?

A

Anterior longitudinal ligament

45
Q

What ligament prevents overflexion of the vertebral column?

A

Posterior longitudinal ligament and ligamentum flava

46
Q

What is the ligament of the atlas called?

A

Transverse ligament of the atlas - holds dens in position

47
Q

What are the unique features of the atlas (C1)?

A

It has no body or spinous process.

48
Q

What happens to the intervertebral disc as a result of ageing?

A

Dehydration of intervertebral disc leading to less shock absorption

49
Q

What happens to the vertebra as a result of ageing?

A

Osteoarthiritis - stiffness and pain of joints

Anatomy - Year One (26 decks)

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