Vertebral Column Flashcards
what does the hyoid bone aid in?
swallowing and speech
hyoid bone serves as a moveable base for what
tongue
anchored by ligaments to styloid process of temporal bone
hyoid bone
compared to the infants total body length the skull is what
large
the skull is how much of infant body length and adult body length
1/4 infant
1/8 adult
fibrous membranes connecting the cranial bones
fontanels
what do fontanels allow the skull to do?
compress during birth and allow birth during later pregnancy and early infancy
how long do fontanels take to convert to bone?
24 months
axial support of the body
vertebral column (spine)
location of spine
from skull to pelvis
what does the spine do for the skull and pelvis?
supports the skull and in the pelvis it transmits the weight of the body to lower limbs
vertebrae or named according to what
location
how many vertebral bones are there?
26
the vertebral bones are separated by what
intervertebral discs
function of intervertebral discs
cushion the vertabrae and absorb shock and allow flexibility
the vertebral discs of a young person are
high in water content, spongy and compressible
as you age the intervertebral discs do what
water content decreases (along with other tissues throughout the body), discs become harder and less compressible
spinal cord runs through what
vertebral foramen
prior to birth how many vertebrae are there?
33
two composite bones of the spine
sacrum and coccyx
what prevents shock to the head while running or walking?
discs and S-shaped structure of vertebral column
drying of the discs and weakening of the discs causes old people to have what
herniated (slipped) discs
slipped discs
herniated discs
what causes herniated discs
exceptional twisting forces on vertebral column
what happens when you have a herniated disc?
protruding disc presses on spinal cord or spinal nerves causing numbness or excruciating pain
what curvatures develop after birth and what shape does it cause?
primary curvatures; C-shaped
what curvatures are present at birth and what shape does it form?
secondary curvature; S-shaped
what does the secondary curvature allow us to do?
center body weight on lower limbs with minimal effort
when does the cervical curvature appear?
when baby begins to raise its head
when does the lumbar curvature appear?
when baby begins to walk
to the side
scoliosis
hunchback
kyphosis
deep lower curve
lordosis
what causes abnormal spinal curvatures?
congenital, disease, poor posture, unequal muscle pull on the spine
what kind of tissue makes up the intervertebral disc
flexible fibrocartilage
