Vertebral Column Flashcards
What kind of curvature is present in the fetus?
primary
What kind of curvature is present in an adult cervical spine?
secondary
What kind of curvature is present in an adult thoracic spine?
primary
What kind of curvature is present in an adult lumbar spine?
secondary
What kind of curvature is present in an adult sacral region?
primary
Is primary curvature concave or convex?
concave
Is secondary curvature concave or convex?
convex
How much of the body’s weight does the body of a spinal segment support?
75-80%
What two structures does the pedicle connect?
body and lamina
Why do the cervical spine segments have holes in the transverse processes (transverse foramen)?
to allow the vertebral artery to pass through
How much of the body’s weight do the articular processes of a spinal segment support?
20-25%
What is kyphosis?
excess curvature of the thoracic spinal region
What is lordosis?
excess curvature in the lumbar spinal region
What is scoliosis?
lateral deviation in the curvature of the spine, usually due to a missing or extra portion of vertebra
this can technically occur in all regions of the vertebral column
How many cervical vertebrate are there?
7 cervical
