Vertebral Column

Question 1

Vertebra

Answer 1

Spine

Question 2

Vertebral Column

Answer 2

Bony sheath for the spinal cord

Question 3

Body

Answer 3

weight bearing part of the vertebrae, drum shaped

Question 4

Pedicle

Answer 4

one of a pair of short, cylindrical bone formations on each vertebra of the human spine

Question 5

Transverse Process

Answer 5

lateral process of a vertebra

Question 6

Process

Answer 6

a projection or outgrowth of tissue from a larger body, also called apophysis

Question 7

Lamina

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Spinous Process

Answer 8

a bony projection off the posterior (back) of each vertebra

Question 9

Vertebral Foramen

Answer 9

the opening formed by a neural arch through which the spinal cord passes

Question 10

articular processes (facets)

Answer 10

projections of the vertebra that serve the purpose of fitting with an adjacent vertebra

Question 11

Superior Articular Process

Answer 11

one of the articular processes on the superior surface of the vertebral arch

Question 12

Inferior Articular Process

Answer 12

one of the articular processes on the inferior surface of the vertebral arch

Question 13

Cervical Vertebrae

Answer 13

vertebrae immediately inferior to the skull

Question 14

C1 = atlas

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

C2 = axis

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

Transverse Foramen

Answer 16

An opening in the transverse process of a cervical vertebra for the passage of the vertebral artery and vein and the sympathetic nerve plexus

Question 17

Thoracic Vertebrae

Answer 17

each of the twelve bones of the backbone to which the ribs are attached

Question 18

lumbar vertebrae

Answer 18

the five vertebrae between the rib cage and the pelvis

Question 19

sacrum

Answer 19

a triangular bone in the lower back formed from fused vertebrae and situated between the two hipbones of the pelvis

Question 20

coccyx

Answer 20

a small, triangular bone at the base of the spinal column, formed of fused vestigial vertebrae

Question 21

intervertebral disc

Answer 21

a layer of cartilage separating adjacent vertebrae in the spine

Question 22

nucleus pulposis

Answer 22

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

Question 23

annulus fibrosis

Answer 23

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