Vertebral Column

Question 1

VERTEBRAE

Answer 1

33 Vertebrae
1. Cervical
2. Thoracic
3. Lumbar
4. Sacral
5. Coccygeal

Question 2

TYPICAL STRUCTURE

Answer 2

Vertebral Foramen= opening between body and arch
Vertebral Foramina of ALL vertebrae together = VERTEBRAL CANAL
(Contains and Protects spinal cord)

Question 3

VERTEBRAL ARCH

Answer 3

Pedicles
Laminae
Spinous Process
Transverse Process
Superior/Inferior Articular Processes
Superior/Inferior Vertebral Notches

Question 4

PEDICLES

Answer 4

Bany pillars attach arch to body

Question 5

LAMINAE

Answer 5

Extend from pedicle meet in midline

Question 6

SPINOUS PROCESS

Answer 6

Projects from junction laminae

Question 7

TRANSVERSE PROCESS

Answer 7

Extends from junction pedicle and lamina

Question 8

SUPERIOR/INFERIOR ARTICULAR PROCESSES

Answer 8

Project from junction pedicle and laminae

Question 9

SUPERIOR/INFERIOR VERTEBRAL NOTCHES

Answer 9

On pedicles between body and origin articular processes
(Contribute formation of Intervertebral Foramina)

Question 10

INTERVERTEBRAL FORAMINA

Answer 10

SUPERIOR Border
~ Inferior vertebral notch of vertebral above
INFERIOR Border
~ Superior vertebral notch of vertebra below
ANTERIOR Border
~ Intervertebral Disc
POSTERIOR Border
~ Zygapophysial joint
SPINAL NERVE exit vertebral canal laterally via foramen

Question 11

ATLAS (C1)

Answer 11

Articulates with Occipital conducts
Posterior surface Anterior Arch ~ articular facet for Dens

Question 12

AXIS (C2)

Answer 12

Dens extends Superiorly
Held in position posteriorly by Transverse Ligament of Atlas

Question 13

SACRAL

Answer 13

Articulates L5 above and Coccyx below
4 Pairs of Sacral Foramina ~ Passage Anterior/Posterior Rami (S1-S4)

Question 14

COCCYGEAL

Answer 14

Articulates inferior end sacrum

Question 15

1. INTERVERTEBRAL JOINTS

Answer 15

Symphysis between vertebral bodies
Hyaline cartilage layer
INTERVERTEBRAL DISC:
- outer Anulus Fibrosus
- central Nucleus Pulposus

Question 16

2. ZYGAPOPHYSIAL JOINTS

Answer 16

PLANE type synovial joint between vertebral arches

Question 17

3. UNCOVERTEBRAL JOINTS

Answer 17

Uncinate processes ~ elevated crests lateral margins upper surfaces typical cervical vertebrae
Articulate with body above

Question 18

VERTEBRAL JOINTS

Answer 18

CERVICAL REGION
- Zygapophysical joint slope inferiorly
- Flexion and Extension
THORACIC REGION
- Zygapophysial joint oriented vertically
- Limits flexion and extension
- Facilitating Rotation
LUMBAR REGION
- Zygapophysial joint curved and processes interlock
- Flexion and Extension major movements
(limiting range of movement)

Question 19

1. LIGAMENTA FLAVA

Answer 19

Between Laminae of adjacent vertebrae
Elastic tissue

Question 20

2. ANTERIOR/POSTERIOR LONGITUDINAL LIGAMENTS

Answer 20

Attached to vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs along length
ANTERIOR LIGAMENT
- Base skull to anterior surface sacrum
POSTERIOR LIGAMENT
- Lines anterior surface vertebral canal
TECTORIAL MEMBRANE
- Upper part Posterior Ligament
- Connects C2 to intracranial aspect base skull

Question 21

3. SUPRASPINOUS LIGAMENT

Answer 21

Along tips of vertebral Spinous Processes
C7 to Sacrum

Question 22

4. LIGAMENTUM NUCHAE

Answer 22

Upward continuation Supraspinous Ligament
C7 to skull
BASE - attached to skull (external occipital protuberance to foramen magnum)
APEX - tip of C7 spinous process
DEEP SIDE - Posterior tubercle C1 vertebra and Spinous Processes other cervical vertebrae

Question 23

5. INTERSPINOUS LIGAMENTS

Answer 23

Between adjacent vertebral spinous processes
Base to apex
Blend Supraspinous Ligament posteriorly and Ligamenta Flava anteriorly

Question 24

ATLANTO-OCCIPITAL JOINT

Answer 24

ELLIPSOID type synovial joint
Allows head to nod up and down (YES)
~ Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane
~ Posterior atlanto-occipital membrane

Question 25

ATLANTO-AXIAL JOINT

Answer 25

1. MEDIAN ATLANTO-AXIAL JOINT
   - PIVOT joint
   ~ Between anterior arch atlas and dens axis
2. LATERAL ATLANTO-AXIAL JOINT
   - PLANE joint
   Rotate head side to side (NO)
   ~ Tectorial membrane
   ~ Alar ligament
   ~ Apical ligament of dens
   ~ Cruciform ligament