Vertebral Column Flashcards
What are the primary (kyphotic) curves?
Thoracic, sacrococcygeal
How many of each type of vertebra?
Cervical. 7 Thoracic. 12 Lumbar. 5 Sacral 5 (Fused) Coccygeal 4 (fused) = 26 or 33, depending on how you count. (24 true freely moving vertebra)
What are the secondary (lordotic) curves?
Cervical and lumbar
What are the components of the axial skeleton?
Vertebral column + skull + sternum + ribs + sacrum + coccyx
What distinguishes the lumbar from the thoracic vertebrae?
1) Lumbar: mammillary and accessory processes
Thoracic: superior/inferior (Demi) costal and transverse costal facets.
2) thoracic: smaller foramen
3) thoracic: SA facets in frontal plane; lumbar: saggital
4) thoracic: spinal process inferiorly angled
What are the typical Thoracic vertebrae?
T2-8
What is atypical about T1?
One costal facet on each side instead of 2 demifacets
What is atypical about T9-12?
Only one costal facet
T11 & 12 missing transverse costal facet
T12 inferior articular facets in saggital plane
What are the typical lumbar vertebrae?
L1-4
What is atypical about L5?
Body is wedge shaped (thicker anteriorly)
Inferior articular facets face forward (slightly more coronal)
What joints are associated with the lumbar vertebrae?
Lumbosacral (L5-S1)
Zygapophyseal (articular facets)
Intervertebral (inferior and superior facets)
Lumbar (t12-l1, then between all the Ls)
Zygapophyseal
Intervertebral
What are the joints of the thoracic vertebrae?
Intervertebral
Zygapophyseal
Costovertebral
Costotransverse
What type of bone are ribs?
Flat
What joints are associated with the rib cage?
Sternocostal (sternum -rib)
Costovertebral (rib-vertebra/superior-inferior articulating facets)
Costotransverse (rib - vertebra/transverse costal facet)
True/false/floating ribs
True: R1-7 (attach directly to sternum)
False: R8-10 (attach indirectly to sternum)
Floating: R11-12 (don’t attach to sternum)
What is atypical about R1?
Shortest and curviest.
Only one facet on head (thus no inter articular crest)
No angle, no costal groove
Has two superior grooves: 1) subclavian vein (ant) 2) subclavian artery (post)
Scalene tubercle between groove and rough area for muscle attachment
What is atypical about R2?
Missing groove
Rough area for attachment of scalene
What is atypical about R10?
Only one facet at head, so no interarticular crest
May not have tubercle
What is atypical about R11 & R12?
Only one facet at head, no interarticular crest
No tubercle
Pointy anterior end for articular cartilage attachment
R11: slight angle and slight groove
R12: no costal groove
What are the joints of the sternum?
Sternocostal (sternum-rib)
Sternoclavicular (sternum-clavicle)
Xiphysternal (xiphoid process-body of sternum)
Manubriosternal (manubrium-sternal)
Which are the typical ribs?
R3-9
Features of typical ribs:
Two facets at head (posterior)
Inferior: articulates the same numbered vertebra
Superior: articulates with vertebra above
Interarticular crest separates the two facets.
Tubercle: made up of an articular (w/facet if TVP) and non-articular surface
Angle (directional change): muscle attachment
Costal Groove: inferior/internal. VAN passage
Uncinate processes
Unique to c-spine
Lateral on superior surface
Ant/post on inferior surfaces
Why are c-spine spinous processes bifid?
To allow for extension
Superior articulating process (sacrum)
Posterior and slightly medially facing
Articulate with L5
Transverse lines/ridges (sacrum)
Anterior surface
Where vertebral bodies fused.
Sacral promontory
At s1 where the weight from lumbar spine is transferred; centre of gravity.
Anterior/posterior sacral foramina
Allows the ventral and dorsal sacral nerves to exit.
Pedicals (sacrum)
Between sacral foramina and lateral sacral crest
Lamina (sacral)
In between median and intermediate crests
Sacral canal
Space for spinal cord/nerves
Aurical surface (sacrum)
Joint surface for SI joint
Median sacral crest
Fused spinous process
Intermediate sacral crest
Fused articular processes
Lateral sacral crest
Fused transverse processes
Sacral tuberosity
Ligament attachment
Sacral hiatus
Infused lamina in s5
Sacral Cornu
Lateral extension of sacral hiatus. Ligament attachment.
Lamina
Muscle attachment
Pedicle
Attach arch to vertebral body.
Vertebral notches
Superior/inferior
Form intervertebral foramen for nerve roots to exit through.
Spinous processes
Muscle attachment
Mammillary processes
Unique to L spine
On posterior/superior articular processes
Muscle attachment
Accessory processes
Unique to L-spine
Located inferior to the base of TVP
Muscle attachment
Superior/inferior articular processes
Location for facets of zygapophyseal joints.
