Vertebral Column Flashcards
Vertebra
Spine
Vertebral Column
Bony sheath for the spinal cord
Body
weight bearing part of the vertebrae, drum shaped
Pedicle
one of a pair of short, cylindrical bone formations on each vertebra of the human spine
Transverse Process
lateral process of a vertebra
Process
a projection or outgrowth of tissue from a larger body, also called apophysis
Lamina
posterior arch of the vertebral bone lying between the spinous process (which juts out in the middle) and the more lateral pedicles and the transverse processes of each vertebra.
Spinous Process
a bony projection off the posterior (back) of each vertebra
Vertebral Foramen
the opening formed by a neural arch through which the spinal cord passes
articular processes (facets)
projections of the vertebra that serve the purpose of fitting with an adjacent vertebra
Superior Articular Process
one of the articular processes on the superior surface of the vertebral arch
Inferior Articular Process
one of the articular processes on the inferior surface of the vertebral arch
Cervical Vertebrae
vertebrae immediately inferior to the skull
C1 = atlas
one of the two upper cervical vertebrae which is the topmost vertebra of the spinal column. It is the vertebra that is in contact with the occipital bone, a flat bone located at the back portion of the head. Named after greek hero.
C2 = axis
the second cervical vertebra (C2) of the spine, or epistropheus. It forms the pivot upon which the first cervical vertebra (the atlas), which carries the head, rotates.
Transverse Foramen
An opening in the transverse process of a cervical vertebra for the passage of the vertebral artery and vein and the sympathetic nerve plexus
Thoracic Vertebrae
each of the twelve bones of the backbone to which the ribs are attached
lumbar vertebrae
the five vertebrae between the rib cage and the pelvis
sacrum
a triangular bone in the lower back formed from fused vertebrae and situated between the two hipbones of the pelvis
coccyx
a small, triangular bone at the base of the spinal column, formed of fused vestigial vertebrae
intervertebral disc
a layer of cartilage separating adjacent vertebrae in the spine
nucleus pulposis
the inner core of the vertebral disc. The core is composed of a jelly-like material that consists of mainly water, as well as a loose network of collagen fibers. The elastic inner structure allows the vertebral disc to withstand forces of compression and torsion
annulus fibrosis
the tough circular exterior of the intervertebral disc that surrounds the soft inner core, the nucleus pulposus. This outer portion is composed of a ring of ligament fibers that encases the inner core of the disc and securely connects the spinal vertebrae above and below the disc
