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Anatomy > Vertebral Column > Flashcards

Vertebral Column Flashcards

1
Q

What is the vertebral column?

A

The skeleton of neck and back

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2
Q

What are the functions of the vertebral column

A

to support weight, protect spinal cord, serve as an axis and pivot, and aid posture/movement

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3
Q

How many differential segments are there?

A

5

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4
Q

What are the differential segments of the vertebral column?

A

Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal

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5
Q

How many cervical vertebrae are there?

A

7 (C1 - C7)

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6
Q

How many lumbar vertebrae are there?

A

5 (L1 - L5)

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7
Q

How many thoracic vertebrae are there?

A

12 (T1 - T12)

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8
Q

How many sacral vertebrae are there?

A

5 (S1 - S5)

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9
Q

How many variable coccygeal vertebrae are there?

A

typically 4 (Co1 - Co4)

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10
Q

What are the ventral and dorsal sides of a vertebra called, respectively?

A

vertebral body and vertebral/neural arch

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11
Q

What does the vertebral/neural arch consist of?

A

paired laminae and pedicles

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12
Q

What is the function of the pedicles?

A

They join the vertebral arch and body

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13
Q

What are laminae?

A

flat plates contacting pedicles

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14
Q

What do the vertebral foramen form?

A

the vertebral canal

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15
Q

What landmark do the superior and inferior vertebral notches form?

A

The intervertebral foramen

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16
Q

What forms the intervertebral foramen?

A

the superior and inferior vertebral notches

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17
Q

What forms the vertebral canal?

A

The vertebral foramen

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18
Q

What does the vertebral process consist of?

A

spinous process, transverse process, and articular process/zygopophysis

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19
Q

Together, the spinous process, transverse process, and articular process/zgopopheysis make up what?

A

The vertebral process

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20
Q

How many spinous processes are there per vertebra?

A

1

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21
Q

How many transverse processes are there per vertebra?

A

2

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22
Q

How many articular processes/zygapophyses are there per vertebra?

A

4

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23
Q

Name the articular processes/zygapophyses based on their location on the vetebra

A

The 2 superior ones are called pre-zygapophyses.

The 2 inferior ones are called post-zygapophyses

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24
Q

What conveys vertebral arteries?

A

transverse foramina on CERVICAL vertebrae

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25
Q

What type of vertebral segment has transverse foramina?

A

cervical

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26
Q

What structures are located on the transverse processes of cervical vertebrae?

A

anterior and posterior tubercles

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27
Q

What is the name of the anterior tubercle of C6?

A

carotid tubercle

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28
Q

Why are the vertebral foramina of C3 - C7 large?

A

Do to the cervical enlargement of the spinal cord

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29
Q

What is the raised margin of the superior border of the body of cervical vertebrae called?

A

uncinate process

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30
Q

What cervical vertebra articulates with occipital condyles?

A

C1 / atlas

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31
Q

What vertebra laces a vertebral body?

A

C1 / atlas

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32
Q

What vertebra has a groove for vertebral artery on superior surface?

A

C1 / atlas

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33
Q

What is the name of the former body of C1, which is the pivot for skull, on C2 called?

A

dens/odontoid process

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34
Q

What is another name for C2?

A

axis

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35
Q

What is the name of the long spinous process on C7 called?

A

vertebra prominens

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36
Q

What cervical vertebra is the vertebra prominens on?

A

C7

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37
Q

What is the name of the structure on a thoracic vertebra that articulates with the rib head?

A

the superior and inferior costal facets of adjacent thoracic vertebrae come together to form a space that articulates with the rib head.

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38
Q

What is the name of the structure on a thoracic vertebra that articulates with the rib tubercle?

A

transverse costal facet

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39
Q

Describe the spinous process on a thoracic vertebra

A

long and slender

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40
Q

What is the name of the structure that is positioned posteriorly on each transverse process (attachment for intertransverse lumborum muscles) on a lumbar vertebra?

A

accessory process

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41
Q

What is the name of the structure on a lumbar vertebra that is an attachment for multifidus and median intertransverse muscles?

A

mammillary process

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42
Q

Which vertebra is the largest in vertebral column?

A

L5

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43
Q

Which lumbar vertebra is a huge contributor to lumbosacral angle?

A

L5

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44
Q

What is the name of the angle between lumbar and sacral vertebrae?

A

lumbosacral angle

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45
Q

Which vertebrae fuse to form sacrum?

A

sacral

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46
Q

What do the sacral vertebrae do to form the sacrum?

A

fuse

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47
Q

What is the function of the sacral vertebrae?

A

to transfer body weight to pelvis and contribute to strength and stability

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48
Q

What is the name of the sacral continuation of vertebral canal?

A

sacral canal

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49
Q

What is the name of the space between sacral vertebrae (laterally positioned)?

A

sacral foramina

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50
Q

What is the name of the anterosuperior projecting edge of S1?

A

sacral promontory

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51
Q

What is the name of the fused spinous processes on the sacrum?

A

median crest

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52
Q

What is the name of the fused articular processes on the sacrum?

A

medial crest

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53
Q

What is the name of the fused transverse processes on the sacrum?

A

lateral crest

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54
Q

What is the name of the gap in laminae on the sacrum?

A

sacral hiatus

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55
Q

What is the name of the former inferior articular processes of S5?

A

sacral cornua (horns)

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56
Q

What is the name of the surface that is a part of the sacroiliac joint?

A

auricular surface

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57
Q

What is the name of the rudimentary tailbone?

A

coccygeal (coccyx)

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58
Q

What is the name of the part of Co1, articulate with sacral horns?

A

coccygeal cornua (horns)

59
Q

What are the 4 curvatures of the vertebral column?

A

Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacral

60
Q

What is the shape of the cervical curvature?

A

anteriorly convex, secondary

61
Q

What is the difference between primary and secondary curvatures of the vertebral column?

A

A primary curvature is present at birth, due to differences in anterior and posterior portions of vertebrae.

A secondary curvature primarily develops after birth, due to differences in anterior and posterior portions of intervertebral discs

62
Q

What is the shape of the thoracic curvature?

A

anteriorly concave, primary

63
Q

What is the shape of the lumbar curvature?

A

anteriorly convex, secondary

64
Q

What is the shape of the sacral curvature?

A

anteriorly concave, primary

65
Q

What are the movements of the vertebral column?

A

flexion/extension, lateral bending, and rotation

66
Q

What are the movements of the vertebral column restricted by?

A

intervertebral discs, orientation of zygapophysial joints, articular capsules, muscles, and ligaments

67
Q

What does the range of motion of the vertebral column primarily result from?

A

elasticity of intervertebral discs

68
Q

What type of clinical condition is osteoporosis and osteoarthritis?

A

degenerative changes in vertebrae

69
Q

What type of clinical condition is kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis?

A

abnormal curvatures

70
Q

What type of joints are vertebral body joints?

A

secondary cartilaginous joints

71
Q

vertebral body joints articulate via what kind of discs?

A

interposed intervertebral discs

72
Q

What is kordosis?

A

too much curvature in the thorax (hunch back)

73
Q

What is lordosis?

A

too much curvature in the lumbar

74
Q

What is scoliosis?

A

sideways curvature of the spine

75
Q

What is the outer portion of concentric fibrocartilaginous circles of intervertebral discs?

A

annulus fibrosus

76
Q

What is the slightly posteriorly positioned gelatinous, elastic, avascular core of the intervertebral discs?

A

nucleus pulposus

77
Q

What is the name of the joints between the uncinate processes of C3 - C6 and superjacent body?

A

uncovertebral joints

78
Q

What are the synovial joints between superior and inferior articular processes?

A

vertebral arch joints (zygapophyses)

79
Q

What allow gliding between vertebrae?

A

vertebral arch joints (zygapophyses)

80
Q

What aspect of zygapophyses limits movement?

A

their variable orientation

81
Q

What is the strong band extending across the anterolateral vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs?

A

anterior longitudinal ligament

82
Q

What structure prevents hyperextension of vertebral column, stabilizing vertebral body joints?

A

anterior longitudinal ligament

83
Q

What structure extends from sacrum to occiput and C1’s anterior tubercle?

A

anterior longitudinal ligament

84
Q

What is the anterior longitudinal ligament?

A

It is a strong band extending across anterolateral vertebral bodies and IV discs.

85
Q

What does the anterior longitudinal ligament do?

A

It prevents hyperextension of vertebral column, stabilizing vertebral body joints.

86
Q

Where does the anterior longitudinal ligament extend from and to?

A

It extends from sacrum to occiput and C1’s anterior tubercle.

87
Q

What is the weaker band extending along anterior aspect of vertebral canal?

A

posterior longitudinal ligament

88
Q

What is the posterior longitudinal ligament?

A

the weaker band extending along anterior aspect of vertebral column

89
Q

What does the posterior longitudinal ligament do?

A

It prevents hyperflexion of vertebral column

It prevents herniation/protrusion of discs

90
Q

What structures stabilize laminae, transverse processes, and spinous processes?

A

accessory ligaments

91
Q

What is the name of the accessory ligaments that are also known as the “yellow ligaments”

A

ligamenta flava

92
Q

Which accessory ligaments connect adjacent laminae?

A

ligamenta flava

93
Q

Which accessory ligaments are a broad, yellow fibrous tissue extending along posterior wall?

A

ligamenta flava

94
Q

Which accessory ligaments prevent abrupt flexion of vertebral column, preventing injury to intervertebral discs?

A

ligamenta flava

95
Q

Which accessory ligaments connect spinous processes?

A

interspinous ligaments

96
Q

Name the 5 types of accessory ligaments

A

ligamenta flava, interspinous ligaments, supraspinous ligaments, nuchal ligament/ligamentum nuchae, inter-transverse ligaments

97
Q

Which accessory ligaments connect tips of spinous processes, extending from C7 to the sacrum?

A

supraspinous ligaments

98
Q

Which accessory ligaments merge with ligamentum nuchae?

A

supraspinous ligaments

99
Q

Which accessory ligament extends from external occipital protuberance/posterior foramen magnum to spinous processes of cervical vertebrae?

A

nuchal ligament/ligamentum nuchae

100
Q

Which accessory ligaments connect adjacent transverse processes?

A

inter-transverse ligaments

101
Q

Which accessory ligaments are obvious in the thorax?

A

inter-transverse ligaments

102
Q

Name the two types of craniovertebral joints

A

atlanto-occipital joint

atlanto-axial joint

103
Q

Which craniovertebral joint primarily allows nodding of the head (flexion/extension)?

A

atlanto-occipital joint

104
Q

Which craniovertebral joint allows lateral bending and rotation?

A

atlanto-occipital joint

105
Q

What is the name of the structures in the atlanto-occipital joint that extend from atlas to margins of foramen magnum?

A

atlantooccipital membranes

106
Q

What is the name of the structures in the atlanto-occipital joint that allow lateral bending and rotation?

A

atlantooccipital membranes

107
Q

What structure in the atlanto-occipital joint holds dens of C2 with arch of C1?

A

transverse ligament of atlas

108
Q

In the atlanto-occipital joint, where is the transverse ligament of atlas located?

A

posterior wall of dens’ socket

109
Q

In the atlanto-occipital joint, what structures extend from transverse ligament to occiput and C2 body?

A

longitudinal bands

110
Q

In the atlanto-occipital joint, together, the transverse ligament of atlas and the longitudinal bands are called what?

A

cruciate ligament

111
Q

In the atlanto-occipital joint, what structures extend from sides of dens to C1 and foramen magnum?

A

alar ligaments

112
Q

What is the function of the alar ligaments in the atlanto-occipital joint?

A

to limit head rotation

113
Q

What ligaments limit head rotation in the atlanto-occipital joint?

A

alar ligaments

114
Q

In the atlanto-occipital joint, what membrane extends from C2 and through foramen magnum?

A

tectorial membrane

115
Q

In the atlanto-occipital joint, what structure is the superior continuation of the posterior longitudinal ligament?

A

tectorial membrane

116
Q

What is the joint between the axis and atlas? (2 lateral, 1 median)

A

atlanto-axial joint

117
Q

In which craniovertebral joint is movement primarily rotation?

A

atlanto-axial joint

118
Q

In which craniovertebral joint do C1 and skull rotate on C2, limited by alar ligaments?

A

atlanto-axial joint

119
Q

In the atlanto-axial joint, which joints are also known as the gliding joints?

A

C1/C2 zygapophysial joints

120
Q

in the atlanto-axial joint, what is the name of the dens and C1 articulation?

A

pivot point

121
Q

Herniations and protrusions of nucleus pulposus are clinical conditions of which vertebral infrastructure/s?

A

Joints and ligaments

122
Q

Internal decapitation is a clinical condition of which vertebral infrastructure/s?

A

joints and ligaments

123
Q

Spinal arteries and spinal veins are in which vertebral infrastructure?

A

Vasculature

124
Q

What are the branches of the spinal arteries?

A

vertebral & ascending cervical artery
posterior intercostal arteries
subcostal &lumbar arteries
iliolumbar & lateral and medial sacral arteries

125
Q

Which branch of the spinal arteries is located in the neck?

A

vertebral & ascending cervical artery

126
Q

Which branch of the spinal arteries is located in the thorax?

A

posterior intercostal arteries

127
Q

Which branch of the spinal arteries is located in the abdomen?

A

subcostal & lumbar arteries

128
Q

Which branch of the spinal arteries is located in the pelvis?

A

iliolumbar & lateral and medial sacral arteries

129
Q

Upon entering the intervertebral foramina, what do the spinal arteries divide into?

A

terminal radicular arteries supplying ventral and dorsal roots, and…

medullary segmental arteries, which anastomose with spinal cord’s arteries.

130
Q

The spinal veins are composed of what two plexuses?

A

internal venous plexus and external venous plexus

131
Q

What exist for each of the two spinal vein venous plexuses?

A

anterior and posterior components

132
Q

What are the three types of vertebral development?

A

Initial development, chondrification, ossification

133
Q

What type of vertebral development involves sclerotomes, paired mesenchymal condensations around notochord?

A

Initial vertebral development

134
Q

Describe what happens during initial vertebral development involving sclerotomes, paired mesenchymal condensations around notochord.

A

part moves cranially to form IV disc

part forms mesenchymal centrum/future vertebral body

the portion around the neural tube forms neural arch

mesenchymal cells in body wall form ribs

135
Q

What happens during the part of initial vertebral development involving mesenchymal centrum/future vertebral body?

A

each centrum forms from 2 adjacent sclerotomes and becomes intersegmental

notochord degenerates where surrounded by vertebral bodies

notochord forms nucleus pulposus between vertebral bodies

136
Q

What is the development of cartilaginous vertebral column called?

A

chondrification

137
Q

Describe the several chondrification centers

A

2 fuse to form cartilaginous centrum

2 fuse to form neural arch, then arch fuses with body

138
Q

What do the neural arch centers do?

A

They produce spinous and transverse processes.

139
Q

What is ossification in vertebral development?

A

development of bony vertebral column

140
Q

What kinds of ossification centers are there in the vertebral column?

A

primary ossification centers in each cartilaginous vertebra

secondary ossification centers

141
Q

What do the primary ossification centers in the vertebral column form?

A

2 fuse to form centrum

2 form vertebral arch

142
Q

What do the secondary ossification centers in the vertebral column form?

A

tip of spinous process (1 per vertebra)

tip of transverse process (2 per vertebra)

annular epiphyses, on superior and inferior rims of body (2 per vertebra)

143
Q

What are the clinical conditions of vertebral development?

A

spina bifida

Anatomy (17 decks)

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