Vertebral Column Flashcards
VERTEBRAE
33 Vertebrae
1. Cervical
2. Thoracic
3. Lumbar
4. Sacral
5. Coccygeal
TYPICAL STRUCTURE
Vertebral Foramen= opening between body and arch
Vertebral Foramina of ALL vertebrae together = VERTEBRAL CANAL
(Contains and Protects spinal cord)
VERTEBRAL ARCH
Pedicles
Laminae
Spinous Process
Transverse Process
Superior/Inferior Articular Processes
Superior/Inferior Vertebral Notches
PEDICLES
Bany pillars attach arch to body
LAMINAE
Extend from pedicle meet in midline
SPINOUS PROCESS
Projects from junction laminae
TRANSVERSE PROCESS
Extends from junction pedicle and lamina
SUPERIOR/INFERIOR ARTICULAR PROCESSES
Project from junction pedicle and laminae
SUPERIOR/INFERIOR VERTEBRAL NOTCHES
On pedicles between body and origin articular processes
(Contribute formation of Intervertebral Foramina)
INTERVERTEBRAL FORAMINA
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
ATLAS (C1)
Articulates with Occipital conducts
Posterior surface Anterior Arch ~ articular facet for Dens
AXIS (C2)
Dens extends Superiorly
Held in position posteriorly by Transverse Ligament of Atlas
SACRAL
Articulates L5 above and Coccyx below
4 Pairs of Sacral Foramina ~ Passage Anterior/Posterior Rami (S1-S4)
COCCYGEAL
Articulates inferior end sacrum
- INTERVERTEBRAL JOINTS
Symphysis between vertebral bodies
Hyaline cartilage layer
INTERVERTEBRAL DISC:
- outer Anulus Fibrosus
- central Nucleus Pulposus
- ZYGAPOPHYSIAL JOINTS
PLANE type synovial joint between vertebral arches
- UNCOVERTEBRAL JOINTS
Uncinate processes ~ elevated crests lateral margins upper surfaces typical cervical vertebrae
Articulate with body above
VERTEBRAL JOINTS
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)
- LIGAMENTA FLAVA
Between Laminae of adjacent vertebrae
Elastic tissue
- ANTERIOR/POSTERIOR LONGITUDINAL LIGAMENTS
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
- SUPRASPINOUS LIGAMENT
Along tips of vertebral Spinous Processes
C7 to Sacrum
- LIGAMENTUM NUCHAE
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
- INTERSPINOUS LIGAMENTS
Between adjacent vertebral spinous processes
Base to apex
Blend Supraspinous Ligament posteriorly and Ligamenta Flava anteriorly
ATLANTO-OCCIPITAL JOINT
ELLIPSOID type synovial joint
Allows head to nod up and down (YES)
~ Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane
~ Posterior atlanto-occipital membrane
ATLANTO-AXIAL JOINT
- MEDIAN ATLANTO-AXIAL JOINT
- PIVOT joint
~ Between anterior arch atlas and dens axis - LATERAL ATLANTO-AXIAL JOINT
- PLANE joint
Rotate head side to side (NO)
~ Tectorial membrane
~ Alar ligament
~ Apical ligament of dens
~ Cruciform ligament
