Vertebral Column Flashcards
What is “humpback”?
excessive kyphosis
What is “hollow back/swayback”?
excessive lordosis
What is scoliosis?
Abnormal lateral curvature
What is the vertebral column composed of?
33 vertebrae.
Cervical (7 total. C1, C2)
Thoracic (12 total. each articulates with a pair of ribs)
Lumbar (5 total, large vertebrae for support of the body’s weight)
Sacral- (five fused vertebra for stability in the transfer of weight from the trunk to the lower limbs)
Coccyx-( 4 total, Co1 is often not fused but Co2-Co4 are fused, remnant of embryonic tail)
Name four curvatures of vertebral column.
cervical lordosis
thoracic kyphosis
lumbar lordosis
sacral kyphosis
What is the cervical lordosis?
2ry curvature acquired when the infant can support weight of the head
What is the thoracic kyphosis?
1ry curvature (fetal position)
What is lumbar lordosis?
2ry curvature acquired when the infant walks and supports his own weight
What is sacral kyphosis?
1 ry curvature
What is the sacrum?
5 fused vertebrae that form a single, wedge shaped bone. provides support for pelvis
What do the sacrum and coccyx form?
the sacroccygeal region. forms part of the pelvic girdle
What is the coccyx?
Remnant of embryonic tail and usually consists of four vertebrae, with the last three often fused into a single bone. lacks vertebral arches and has no vertebral canal
What are some features and variations of vertebrae that can vary (that clinicians must be aware of especially on radiographic imaging?)
cervical rib- extra rib articulating with C7
lumbar rib- extra rib articulating with L1
sacralization- L5 is partially incorporated into the sacrum
Lumbarization- S1 is partially separated from the rest of the sacrum
Name joints of the vertebral column. (5)
joints of the verebral bodies joints of the vertebral arches craniovertebral (atlanto-axial and atlanto-occipital) joints costovertebral joints sacroiliac joints
What are IV discs?
secondary cartilaginious joints. designed for weight bearing and strength. articulating surfaces of adjacent vertebrae are connected by IV discs and ligaments
What does each IV disc consist of?
annulus fibrosus (outer fibrous part, concentric lamellae of fibro-cartilage) nucleus pulposus ( gelatinous central mass. core of the IV disc)
What are the joints of the vertebral arches?
zygapophyiscal joints (facet joints)
Describe major features of typical vertebra.
Body (weight bearing portion that tends to increase in size as one descends the spine) Vertebral arch Articular processes intervertebral foramen lamina pedicle transverse processes spinous process vertebral foramen
Discuss differences between the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.
See diagram
What type of joints are the vertebral arches/zygapophysical joints (facet joints)?
plane synovial joints… between superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae. Allows some gliding and sliding movements.
Describe the ligaments of the vertebral column: Anterior longitudinal ligament (AL) Posterior longitudinal ligament (PL) Ligamentum flavum Interspinous ligament Supraspinous ligament Intertransverse ligament
anterior longitudinal ligament- connects anterior vertebral bodies and IV discs
posterior longitudinal ligament - connects posterior vertebral bodies and IV discs
ligamentum flavum- connects adjacent vertebral laminae
interspinous ligament- connects vertebral spinous tips
intertransverse ligament- connects vertebral transverse processes
What is a laminectomy?
surgical extension of one or more spinous processes and the adjacent supporting vertebral laminae in a particular region of the vertebral column
Where does the spinal cord begin and end?
Begins as a continuation of the medulla oblongata (caudal part of the brainstem)
Ends as inferior tapering end called the conus medullaris
Where does the spinal cord lie and where does it extend?
Lies in the vertebral canal and it extends from the foramen magnum to the level of the L1 or L2 vertebra in adults and L3 in children
What is the cauda equina?
a loose bundle of nerve roots arising from the lumbosacral enlargement and the conus medullaris. Resembles a horse tail.
What fissures and sulci mark the spinal cord externally?
the anterior median fissure, the posterior median sulcus and posterolateral sulcus
What is grey matter? Where?
surrounds a small central canal in internal spinal cord. H shaped appearance and rich in nerve cell bodies
What is white matter?
rich in nerve cell processes, which form large bundles or tracts that ascend and descend in the cord to other spinal cord levels or carry information to and from the brain
What are the spinal cord enlargements and where are they?
2 enlargements.
Cervical enlargement occurs in the region associated with the origins of spinal nerves C5 to T1, which innervate the upper limbs
lumbosacral enlargement- region associated with origins of spinal nerves L1 to S3, innervate the lower limbs
Discuss the arterial supply to the spinal cord.
One anterior spinal artery
Two posterior spinal arteries
Discuss the two posterior spinal arteries of the spinal cord.
They are branches of the vertebral artery superiorly. As they descend the cord, the anterior and posterior spinal arteries receive blood from radicular arteries
Where are radicular arteries derived from?
posterior intercostal, lumbar, iliolumbar, lateral sacral
Discuss venous drainage in regards to the blood supply of spinal cord.
veins that drain the spinal cord form a number of longitudinal channels. These channels drain into an extensive internal vertebral plexus in the extradural (epidural) space of the vertebral canal.
From where does the dura mater of the spinal meninges extend?
from the margin of foramen magnum to the level of S2.
Describe three components of spinal meninges.
dura mater (tough mother)
arachnoid mater
pia mater
What is filum terminale?
is a delicate ligament, which extends from the conus medullaris of the spinal cord down to the coccyx. Composed mainly from pia matter. At level of S2, the dura and arachnoid fuse with it to transverse the sacral canal to end on the back of the coccyx.
What is the denticulate ligament?
toothed ligament formed by pia matter. extends laterally pierces the arachnoid to be attached to the dura between the two spinal roots.
What are the two parts of the filum terminale?
pial part (filum terminal internal dural part (filum terminal exernum)
Where do you place a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) ?
between L3 and L4 verebrae
What is the arrangement of the structures at the vertebral canal from outside to inside?
epideral space dura mater subdural space arachnoid mater subarachnoid space with CSF pia mater spinal cord and cauda equina
What is the conus medullaris?
the end of spinal cord. inferior tapering end
Describe the dura mater and where it extends.
Forms a tough, outer protective layer. Provides tubular sheath for each dorsal and ventral nerve root. Extends from the margin of foramen magnum to the level of S2.
Describe the formation of the two rami branches.
The posterior and anterior nerve roots unite (within or proximal to intervertebral foramen) to form a mixed spinal nerve which immediately divides into two rami branches
What are the two rami branches?
dorsal (posterior) ramus - small ramus
Ventral (anterior) ramus -larger ramus
