Vertebral Column Flashcards
How many bones make up the vertebral column?
26
How many true (movable) vertebrae are there?
24
How many total vertebrae are there?
33
How many regions are there in the vertebral column?
5
How many vertebrae are in the cervical region?
7
How many vertebrae is in the thoracic region?
12
How many vertebrae are in the lumbar region?
5
How many vertebrae are in the sacral region?
5
How many vertebrae are in the coccygeal region?
4
What are the four curvatures of the spine?
•Cervical curvature
•Thoracic curvature
•Lumbar curvature
•Sacral curvature
What are the primary curves?
•Thoracic curve
•Sacral curve
What are the secondary curves?
•Cervical curve
•Lumbar curve
What is the anterior, cylindrical weight bearing portion of a vertebra?
Body
What two lateral structures of a vertebra form the pillars of the passageway for the spinal cord?
Pedicles
On a vertebra what structures extend from the lateral pillars to the midline?
Laminae
Together the posteriorly projecting pillars and the extensions to the midline form what structure?
Vertebral arch
Together the posteriorly projecting pillars and the extensions to the midline form what passageway within a vertebra?
Vertebral foramen
The vertebrae form what collective passageway for the spinal cord?
Vertebral canal
Adjacent vertebrae form what passageways for spinal nerves?
Intervertebral foramina
What posteriorly projecting structures of the vertebrae can be palpated?
Spinous processes