Vertebral Column

Question 1

Vertebral column

Answer 1

33 vertebrae separated by intervertebral discs

Question 2

Functions of vertebral column

Answer 2

Protection - encloses and protects spinal cord within spinal canal
Support - carries weight of body above the pelvis
Axis - forms central axis of body
Movement - posture and movement

Question 3

How many cervical?

Answer 3

7

Question 4

How many thoracic?

Answer 4

12

Question 5

How many lumbar?

Answer 5

5

Question 6

How many sacral?

Answer 6

5, fused

Question 7

How many coccyx?

Answer 7

4, fused

Question 8

Common structure of vertebrae

Answer 8

Anterior vertebral body and posterior vertebral arch

Question 9

Vertebral body

Answer 9

Forms anterior part
Weight bearing component (larger bodies in lower portion to support increased weight)
Superior and inferior aspects of vertebral body lined with hyaline cartilage
Adjacent vertebral bodies separated by fibrocartilaginous intervertebral disc

Question 10

Vertebral arch

Answer 10

Forms lateral and posterior aspect of vertebrae
With the vertebral body, vertebral arch forms enclosed hole (vertebra, foramen)

Question 11

Vertebral canal

Answer 11

Foramina of vertebrae line up to form vertebral canal which enclose the spinal cord

Question 12

Bony prominences off vertebral arches

Answer 12

Spinous processes, transverse processes, pedicels, lamina, articular processes

Question 13

Spinous processes

Answer 13

Each vertebra has single spinous process centred posteriorly at point of arch

Question 14

Transverse processes

Answer 14

Each vertebrae has 2 transverse processes, extend laterally and posteriorly from vertebral body
In thoracic vertebrae the transverse processes articulate with ribs

Question 15

Pedicles

Answer 15

Connect vertebral body to transverse processes

Question 16

Lamina

Answer 16

Connect transverse and spinous processes

Question 17

Articular processes

Answer 17

Form joints between one vertebra and it’s superior and inferior counterparts
Articular processes located at intersection of laminae and pedicles

Question 18

Features of cervical vertebrae

Answer 18

Bifid spinous process - the spinous process bifurcates at distal end (exceptions: C1 has no spinous process and spinous process in C7 is longer)
Transverse foramina - an opening in each transverse process, vertebral arteries travel to brain through this
Triangular vertebral foramen

Question 19

C1

Answer 19

Atlas, specialised to allow movement for the head

Question 20

C2

Answer 20

Axis, specialised to allow movement for the head

Question 21

Thoracic vertebrae

Answer 21

Increase in size from superior to anterior
Articulate with bony ribs producing bony thorax

Question 22

Demi facets

Answer 22

Superior and inferior on either side of vertebral body
Articulate with heads of two different ribs

Question 23

Transverse processes of thoracic vertebrae

Answer 23

Costal facet for articulation with shaft of single rib

Question 24

Spinous processes

Answer 24

Inferior and posterior

Question 25

Vertebral foramen of thoracic vertebrae

Answer 25

Circular

Question 26

Lumbar vertebrae

Answer 26

Largest in vertebral column Support weight of torso Large vertebral bodies (no transverse for mains, costal facets, bifid spinous processes) Triangular shaped vertebral foramen Spinous process shorter

Question 27

Needle access

Answer 27

Lumbar vertebrae

Question 28

Sacrum

Answer 28

On the lateral walls, facets for articulation with pelvis at sacroiliac joints

Question 29

Coccyx

Answer 29

Lack of vertebral arches therefore no vertebral canal

Question 30

Lumbarisation

Answer 30

Separation of S1 from sacrum (congenital abnormalities)

Question 31

Sacralisation

Answer 31

Fusion of L5 to sacrum (congenital abnormality)

Question 32

Articulating with each other

Answer 32

Left and right superior articular facets articulate with vertebra above Left and right inferior articular facets articulate with vertebra below Vertebral bodies indirectly articulate with each other via intervertebral discs

Question 33

Anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments

Answer 33

Strengthen vertebral body joints, run full length of vertebral column Anterior longitudinal ligament is thick, prevents hyper extension of vertebral column Posterior longitudinal ligament is weaker, prevents hyper Flexion

Question 34

Facet joints

Answer 34

Joints between articular facets, allowing for gliding motions between vertebrae

Question 35

Ligamentum flavum

Answer 35

Extends between lamina of adjacent vertebrae

Question 36

Interspinous and supraspinous

Answer 36

Join the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae. Interspinous ligaments attach between processes and the supraspinous ligaments attach to the tips

Question 37

Intertransverse ligaments

Answer 37

Extends between transverse processes