Vertebral Column Flashcards

1
Q

what is a primary curvature?

A

an anterior concavity

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2
Q

what is a secondary curvature?

A

a posterior concavity

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3
Q

what is an anterior concavity vs a posterior concavity?

A

anterior = concavity at the body of the vertebra

posterior = concavity at the spinous process of the vertebra

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4
Q

As development occurs, where are primary curvatures located?

A

thoracic region
sacral region

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5
Q

as development occurs, where are the secondary curvatures located?

A

cervical region
lumbar region

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6
Q

what element of the vertebral column holds the majority of the weight? How much does it hold?

A

vertebra body
75-80%

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7
Q

what is the pedicle?

A

a bilateral, tubular structure that protrudes from the body posteriorly

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8
Q

what is important about the pedicle? when stacked, what do the pedicles form?

A

there are superior and inferior notches that when stacked form the intervertebral foramen.

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9
Q

what exits from the intervertebral foramen?

A

spinal nerves

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10
Q

what are the laminae?

A

bilateral, obliquely oriented structures that lead to the spinous processes

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11
Q

how do spinous and transverse processes differ?

A

spinous - points posteriorly
transverse - points laterally from laminae/pedicles

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12
Q

what structure supports a minority of a person’s body weight? How much does it hold?

A

Articular processes
20-25%

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13
Q

How many cervical vertebra are there?

A

7

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14
Q

What is kyphosis? what type of curvature is that?

A

excess curvature in the thoracic region
1st degree

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15
Q

what is lordosis? what type of curvature is that?

A

excess curvature in the lumbar region
2nd degree

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16
Q

what is scoliosis?

A

a lateral deviation, typically due to a missing/extra portion of vertebra

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17
Q

of the 33 vertebral elements, how many are moveable vs immoveable?

A

moveable = 24
immoveable = 9

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18
Q

how many cervical vertebrae are there?

A

7

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19
Q

what is different about CV1?

A

no spinous process or vertebral body

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20
Q

What is an inferior vertebra named in relation to the superior?

A

atlas = superior
axis = inferior

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21
Q

what is the odontoid process? (Dens)
what does it allow for?

A

the vertebral body of CV2
acts as a stable pivot that allows for lateral rotation of the head

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22
Q

what is the main action between CV1 and the skull?

A

flexion and extension

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23
Q

what are the characteristics of all cervical vertebrae?

A

bifid spinous process
nearly horizontal articular processes
transverse foramen

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24
Q

what is a bifid spinous process?

A
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25
Q

what is the downside of having nearly horizontal articular processes?

A

there is a greater chance of slippage that could in turn sever the spinal cord

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26
Q

what purpose does the transverse foramen serve in the cervical region?

A

allows for the vertebral artery to pass through up to the brain

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27
Q

what vertebrae does the vertebral artery pass through in the cervical region?

A

CV6 to CV1

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28
Q

what is significant about CV7?

A

it has the first prominent spinous process

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29
Q

what is the name of the significance at CV7?

A

vertebra prominens

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30
Q

what motions are permitted at the cervical vertebrae?

A

flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation

31
Q

How many vertebrae are there in the thoracic region?

A

12

32
Q

what is interesting about TV1-4? what is interesting about TV9-12?

A

more like cervical vertebrae and more like lumbar vertebrae

33
Q

what are the characteristics of the thoracic vertebra?

A

long, sharp, oblique spinous processes
vertical articular processes

34
Q

how do ribs 1-10 articulate with thoracic vertebrae?

A

head of the rib articulates with the body and the transverse process

35
Q

how do ribs 11 & 12 articulate with the thoracic vertebra?

A

the head of the rib articulates with the body of the vertebra itself.

36
Q

how does the number of the thoracic vertebra relate to the number of the ribs?

A

they are the same, TV1 = Rib 1

37
Q

how is the articular process of the thoracic vertebrae different than that of the cervical vertebrae in the transverse plane?

A

Thoracic = vertical articular processes
cervical = horizontal articular processes

38
Q

what movements are possible at the thoracic vertebrae?

A

flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation.

39
Q

how are the degrees of movement different between cervical and thoracic vertebrae? what causes this?

A

thoracic is more limited because of relatively thin intervertebral discs whereas cervical is more free due to relatively thicker intervertebral discs.

40
Q

how do elements of lumbar vertebrae differ from the other regions?

A

larger bodies
larger intervertebral foramen
block-like spinous processes
vertically oriented articular processes

41
Q

what motions are allowed in the lumbar region? what isn’t? why is that?

A

flexion and extension are fairly free, but rotation is limited.
more stability = less freedom of movement

42
Q

what is different about the sacral region compared to the other 3?

A

immovable, fused elements

43
Q

what are the holes in the sacral region?

A

sacral foramina

44
Q

what structure can pass through the anterior sacral foramina?

A

ventral rami

45
Q

what structure can pass through the posterior sacral foramina?

A

dorsal rami

46
Q

what main structure does the sacrum articulate with?

A

ilium of os coxae

47
Q

what is the sacral hiatus? what passes through this structure? why is it important?

A

a gap at the inferior portion of the sacrum. the coccygeal nerve exits this structure allowing the epidural space to be accessed.

48
Q

what are intervertebral discs?

A

fibrocartilaginous structures that form symphysis joints

49
Q

how much of the vertebral column do the intervertebral discs count for?

A

1/4 the length

50
Q

what is the nucleus pulposus?

A

central region of the intervertebral disc

51
Q

what is the nucleus pulposus derived from / made of?

A

derived from the embryonic notochord
primarily water

52
Q

what is the annulus fibrosis?

A

concentric rings of fiber that surround the nucleus pulposus

53
Q

how much of the intervertebral disc is comprised of water? what happens to that as we age?

A

80 %
the water content decreases and becomes more fibrous which means it is more susceptible to compression and rupturing

54
Q

what causes a herniated disc? which direction of herniation causes nerve impingement?

A

rupture of the annulus fibrosis causes the nucleus pulposus to herniate in any direction.

posteriorly or posterior laterally

55
Q

what is the anterior longitudinal ligament?

A

a broad ligament that covers the anterior aspect of the vertebral body

56
Q

what is the posterior longitudinal ligament?

A

a less broad ligament that covers the posterior aspect of the vertebral body anterior to the spinal cord

57
Q

what is the ligamentum flavellum?

A

a dense, yellowish structure that connects the adjacent lamina

58
Q

how long are the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments?

A

the entire length of the vertebral column

59
Q

what is the supraspinous ligament?

A

ligament that covers the posterior aspect of the spinous process

60
Q

what is the interspinous ligament?

A

a segmented ligament that holds adjacent spinous processes together.

61
Q

which ligaments are full-length? which ligaments are segmented?

A

full - anterior longitudinal, posterior longitudinal, supraspinous

segmented - ligamentum flavum, interspinous

62
Q

what is in the epidural space?

A

fat and internal vertebral venus plexus

63
Q

how does the internal venus plexus communicate with the external venus plexus?

A

veins that run through intervertebral foramen and veins that pass through the bones of vertebral elements.

64
Q

what is the cause of sciatica?

A

posterolateral herniation of nucleus pulposus causing pressure on the spinal nerve in the vertebral foramen.

65
Q

what is in the subarachnoid space?

A

cerebrospinal fluid

66
Q

what forms the intervertebral foramen?

A

superior/inferior notches of the pedicles
intervertebral discs
articular processes

67
Q

how does herniation affect the spinal nerve of adjacent vertebra?

A

herniation in a vertebra affects the spinal nerve of an inferior vertebra

68
Q

how do spinal nerves exit lumbar intervertebral foramen vs cervical?

A

lumbar = nerve exits below the vertebra
cervical = nerve exits above the vertebra

69
Q

what information do dorsal and ventral roots provide the nervous system?

A

dorsal - sensory
ventral - motor

70
Q

what does the junction of the dorsal/ventral root signify?

A

the beginning of the spinal nerve

71
Q

what does the dorsal root ganglion contain?

A

sensory cell bodies

72
Q

what is a ramus?

A

a branch of the spinal nerve

73
Q
A