Vertebral Column Flashcards
Explain function and location vertebral column
Houses and protects the spinal cord, extends from skull to pelvis
Define intervertebral discs
Composed of 26 bones that are separated by fibrocartilaginous discs, which act as shock absorbers
What are the five regions of the vertebral column ?
7 cervical vertebrae in the neck region
12 thoracic vertebrae through the thorax
5 lumbar vertebrae in the lower back
5 fused vertebrae called the sacrum
3-5 fused vertebrae called the coccyx ( tailbone)
What is the vertebrae in the neck region called? And how many are there?
Cervical vertebrae - 7
What comes after cervical vertebrae and how many are there? And what is the location?
Thorasic vertebrae - 12 . Located in the thorax
What follow Thorasic vertebrae?
Lumbar vertebrae - 5 - lower back
What follows the lumbar vertebrae?
Sacrum - 5 fused vertebrae - posterior region of pelvis
What follows the sacrum?
The coccyx (tailbone) - 3 to 5 fused vertebrae
Name the curvatures of the spine
Cervical, Thoracic, lumbar, sacral
The cervical curvature is ?
Concave
The thoracic curvature is ?
Convex
The lumbar curvature is?
Concave
The sacral curvature is?
Convex
What is the function of the spinal curvatures?
Give the spinal column it’s “ S “ shape and provide flexibility during walking
Which curvatures are primary curvatures and why?
Babies are born with thoracic and sacral curvatures so they are primary
