Vertebral Column Flashcards
Vertebral column consist of
33 vertebral columns 7 cervical 12 thoracic 5 lumbar 5 sacral 4 coccygeal
Vertebral column extends from and belongs to what
Cranium to coccyx
Axial skeleton
Vertebrae reach maximum size immediately superior to sacrum bc
Transfer weight to pelvic girdle
What does the facet or zygopophyseal joints do
At the articular facets and control the vertebral column’s flexibility
Where is there kyphoses
Thoracic
Sacral
Where is there lordosis
Cervical and lumbar
What are the primary curvatures
Thoracic and sacral
Secondary curvatures are
Are cervical and lumbar
A typical vertebrae consist of
Vertebral body, arch and seven processes
Superior and inferior bodies of vertebrae are covered by
Hyaline cartilage
What is Laminae
Flat plates of vertebrae arch
Vertebral foramen holds what
Vertebral canal which contains spinal cord, menginges, fat, spinal nerve roots and vessels
What forms the invertebral foramen
Vertebral notches
What is in the IV foramen
Spinal nerve roots, vessels and spinal ganglia
Where do muscles attach in the vertebra
Spinous process
Transverse process
What limits movement in vertebra
Four articular processes which prevent the vertebra from slipping
Typical cervical vertebrae characterics
Body: small and wider Foramen: large triangle Transverse process: small missing at c7 Articular process 45 degrees Spinous process: c3-c5 bifid and c7 prominens
Characteristics of atlas C1
No spinous process; consist of two lateral masses
Anterior and posterior tubercles of arch
Characteristics of axial C2
Den
Thoracic vertebrae characteristics
Body heart shape
Foramen circle smallest
Transverse process: long and strong t1-t10 costal facets
articular process: about 90 degrees
Spinous process: long and overlap adjacent vertebral body
Lumbar characteristics
Body: large kidney shape Foramen: medium triangle Transverse process: long and slender Articular facets: medial 90 Spinous process: short and stubby
Unconvertible joints are formed by
Located between the uncut of the bodies of C3-C6
The luschka joints also called ucinate joints are what type of joints
Synovial and are consider the degenerative joint
Where is there frequents spur formation
At the luschka joints
Anterior longitudinal ligaments characteristics
Strong and broad
Covers and connects the anterolateral aspects of the vertebral bodies
Extends from pelvic to the anterior tubercle of c1
What does the anterior longitudinal ligament limit
Hyper extension
Posterior longitudinal ligament characteristics
Narrower
From vertebral bodies of c2 to sacrum
What prevents hyperfexion
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Ligamenta flava
Intraspinous ligament
Supra spinous ligament
What is formed by the superior and inferior articular processes
Facet (zygopophyseal) joint
What movement do the facet joints allow
Permit gliding between the articular processes
What does the Ligamenta flava resist
Resist separation of the vertebral laminae by arresting abrupt flexion of the vertebral column and thereby preventing injury to the IV disc
What’s the difference between inter spinous and supraspinous
The interspinous is weak and the supraspinous is strong fibrous
Supraspinous ligament also merges with the nuchal ligament
What type of joints are the craniovertebral
Synovial
What does the Atlanto-occipital joints permit
Nodding of the head
The cranium is also connected to the atlas by
Anterior and posterior Atlanto - occipital membrane which helps prevent excessive movement go the joint
How many articulation are between the Atlanto-axial
3
2 Lateral Atlanto-axial joints between lateral mass of c1 and superior facet of c2
1 median Atlanto-axial joint between the den of c2 and the anterior arch of c1
What type of joints are lateral and median Atlanto-occipital joints
Lateral- synovial plane type
Median- pivot
What movement occurs in the Atlanto-axial joint
Turn head from side to side
What is the crucible ligament composed of
Transverse ligament of atlas ( keeps den in socket)
Longitudinal band - from transverse to occipital and from transverse to C2 body
Alar ligament do what
Attach den to foramen
What are the vertebral supplied by
Periostal and Equatorial branches of the major cervical and segment arteries and their spinal branches
Scoliosis is caused by
Asymmetric weakness of the intrinsic muscles (myopathic scoliosis)
Failure of half the vertebrae (hemivertebra)
Difference in the length of lower limbs
What occurs with the nucleus pulposi as you age
Dehydrates
Lose elastin and proteoglycan
And gains collagen
