Vertebral Column Flashcards
What does vertebral column refer to?
skeleton of the neck and back
What is the function of the vertebral column?
support weight
protect spinal cord
serve as axis and pivot
aid in posture and movement
How many different segments does the vertebral column have? What are they?
5, cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, coccygeal
How many cervical vertebrae are there?
7, C1-C7
How many thoracic vertebrae are there?
12, T1-T12
How many lumbar vertebrae are there?
5, L1-L5
How many sacral vertebrae are there?
5, S1-S5
How many coccygeal vertebrae are there?
It is variable, but there are typically 4
What is the general plan of a vertebra?
A vertebra consist of:
vertebral body (anteriorly)
vertebral/ neural arch (posteriorly)
vertebral processes
What is the main function of the vertebral body?
it is the weight-bearing component, size increases from cranial to caudal end of vertebral column
What are the components of a vertebral/neural arch?
paired pedicles, paired laminae, a vertebral foramen, and superior and inferior vertebral notches
What do the pedicles do?
they join the vertebral arch to the vertebral body
What are the laminae?
they are flat plates contacting pedicles
What does the vertebral foramen form?
vertebral canal
What do the superior and inferior vertebral notches form? And what is its function?
they form the intervertebral foramina that allows the spinal nerves to exit
Name the vertebral processes
spinous process, transverse process, and articular process (zygapophysis)
How many articular processes are there?
4 per vertebra (2 superior - pre-zygapophyses and 2 inferior - post-zygapophyses)
The right and left vertebral arteries ascend from what artery?
subclavian artery
At the level of C1-C6, what do the verterbral arteries run through?
transverse foramina
At the level of C7, where does the vertebral artery run?
Alongside C7, not through
Where are the anterior and posterior tubercles located?
On the transverse processes
What is the carotid tubercle?
anterior tubercle on C6
What is the clinical significance of the carotid tubercle?
occlude blood flow by pushing the carotid artery up against the carotid tubercle
Which of the cervical vertebrae (C1-C7) does the vertebral foramina appear larger?
C3-C7
What is the uncinate process?
raised margins of the superior border of the vertebral body (saddle-shaped)
C1 is also known as what?
atlas
C2 is also known as what?
axis
What does the C1 articulates with?
occipital condyles
What is different about C1 from a typical vertebra?
- lacks vertebral body
- there’s a groove present for vertebral artery
What is the remnant of C1 on C2 called?
dens/odontoid process
What is another name for C7?
vertebra prominens
What is unique about C7?
long spinous process
Where does the rib head articulate into?
superior and inferior costal facet
Where does the rib tubercle articulate into?
transverse costal facet
Which thoracic vertebrae do not have transverse costal facet?
T11 and T12
What are the two specialized processes in the lumbar vertebrae?
accessory and mamillary
What attaches to the accessory process?
intertransverse lumborum muscles
What attaches to the mamillary process?
multifudus and median intertransverse muscles
Which vertebra is the largest?
L5
What is lumbosacral angle?
the angle between lumbar and sacral vertebrae
~ 120 degrees
What is a big contributor to the lumbosacral angle?
L5
Which vertebrae fuse to form the sacrum?
S1-S5
What is the function of the sacrum?
transfer body weight to pelvis and contribute to strength and stability
Sacral canal
sacral continuation of vertebral canal
Sacral foramina
between vertebrae
Where do nerves exit in the sacrum?
sacral foramina
Sacral promontory
anterosuperior projecting edge of S1
Median crest
fused spinous processes
Medial crest
fused articular processes
Lateral crest
fused transverse processes
Sacral hiatus
gap in laminae
Sacral cornua (horns)
former inferior articular processes of S5
Auricular surface
part of sacroiliac joint
What is the function of the auricular surface?
helps transfer weight from vertebral column to the lower limb
Coccygeal cornua (horns)
part of Co 1, articulate with sacral horn
Which two curvatures are anteriorly convex and are secondary curvatures?
cervical and lumbar, aka lordoses
Which two curvatures are anteriorly concave and are primary curvatures?
thoracic and sacral, aka kyphoses
When does primary curvature develop?
present at birth
When does secondary curvature develop?
develops with age
What is the development of primary curvature due to?
differences in height between anterior and posterior parts of vertebrae
What is the development of secondary curvature due to?
differences in thickness between anterior and posterior parts of intervertebral discs
What kind of movements can the vertebral column perform?
flexion/extension, lateral bending, and rotation
What are the movements of the vertebral column restricted by?
IV discs, orientation of zygapophysical joints, articular capsules, muscles and ligaments
Range of motion of the vertebral column results from what?
primarily from elasticity of IV discs
What is lordosis?
accentuation of secondary curvatures (cervical and lumbar)
What is kyphosis?
accentuation of primary curvatures (thoracic and sacral)
What is scoliosis?
lateral deviation of vertebral column
What are some degenerative changes in vertebrae?
osteoporosis and osteoarthritis
What provides strong attachments between vertebral bodies?
intervertebral discs
Intervertebral discs are consist of what two parts?
anulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus
Anulus fibrosus
outer portion of concentric fibrocartilaginous circles
Nucleus pulposus
slightly posteriorly positioned gelatinous, elastic, avascular core
What is remnant of embryological notochord?
IV disc
IV disc is not present in what part of the vertebral column?
between C1-C2
What kind of movement do uncovertebral joints prevent?
anterior/posterior slipping
Uncovertebral joints
joints between unicate process of C3-C6 and superjacent body
What kind of joints are vertebral arch joints?
synovial
Where are vertebral arch joints located?
between superior and inferior articular processes
What kind of movement do vertebral arch joints allow?
gliding between vertebrae
What limits movements of vertebral arch joints?
variable orientation
What’s the function of ligaments?
help prevent herniation and displacement of vertebrae
Anterior longitudinal ligaments
strong band extending across anterolateral vertebral bodies and IV discs
What movement do anterior longitudinal ligaments prevent?
hyperextension of vertebral column
Where do anterior longitudinal ligaments expand to?
extends from sacrum to occiput and C1’s anterior tubercle
What’s the function of anterior longitudinal ligaments?
stabilizes vertebral body joints
Posterior longitudinal ligaments
weaker band extending along anterior aspect of vertebral canal
What movement do posterior longitudinal ligaments prevent?
hyperflexion of vertebral column and herniation/ protusion of discs
What’s the function of accessory longitudinal ligaments
stabilize laminae, transverse processes, and spinous processes
Ligament flava “yellow ligaments”
broad, yellow fibrous tissue extending along posterior wall
Where do ligament flava attach to?
adjacent laminae
What movement does ligament flava prevent?
abrupt flexion of vertebral column, prevents injury to IV discs
Interspinous ligaments
connect spinous processes
supraspinous ligaments
connect tips of spinous processes
What do you find supraspinous ligaments?
C7-sacrum
What do supraspinous ligaments merge with?
ligamentum nuchae
Nuchal ligament (ligamentum nuchae)
extends from external occipital protuberance and posterior foramen magnum to spinous processes
Intra-transverse ligaments
- connects adjacent transverse processes
- obvious in thorax
Where is atlanto-occipital joint located?
between C1 and occipital bone of cranium
Where is alanto-axial joint located?
between C1 and C2
What kind of movements do atlanto-occiptal joints allow?
- primarily allow nodding of head (flexion/extension)
- lateral bending and rotation
What kind of movements do atlanto-axial joints allow?
primarily rotation
Alantooccipital membranes
extend from atlas to margins of foramen magnum
What ligaments prevent excessive movement of the head?
alantooccipital membranes
Transverse ligament of atlas
- holds dens of C2 with arch of C1
- posterior wall of dens’ socket
longitudinal bands
extend from transverse ligament to occipital bone and body of C2 (superior and inferior)
Alar ligaments
extend from sides of dens to C1 and foramen magnum
What ligaments limit head rotation?
alar ligaments
tectorial membrane
extends from C2 and through foramen magnum
Tectorial membrane is a continuation of what ligament?
posterior longitudinal ligament
What ligaments make cruciate ligaments?
superior and inferior longitudinal bands and transverse ligament of atlas
How many alanto-axial joints are there? What are they?
2 lateral atlanto-axial joints (right and left) and 1 median atlanto-axial joint
Which alanto-axial joint is a pivot joint?
median atlanto-axial joint
What spinal arteries will you find in the neck?
vertebral and ascending cervical arteries
What spinal arteries will you find in the thorax ?
posterior intercostal arteries
What spinal arteries will you find in the abdomen?
subcostal and lumbar arteries
What spinal arteries will you find in the pelvis?
iliolumbar and lateral and medial sacral arteries
What venous vessels are there for the vertebrae?
internal and external venous plexus (anterior and posterior components)
