Vertebral column Flashcards
How many Cervical vertebra are there
7
The cervical spine has a _____ curvature
Concave
The Thoracic spine has a ____ curvature
Convex
How many Thoracic vertebra are there
12
The lumber spine has a ____ curvature
Concave
How many lumbar vertebra are there
5
The sacrum has a ____ curvature
convex
The sacrum is composed of how many vertebra
5 fused vertebra
The coccyx is composed of how many vertebra
4 fused vertebra
The cervical and lumbar lordosis is about how many degrees
2 degrees
The thoracic and sacral kyphosis is about how many degrees
1 Degree
The supracristal plane (high points of the iliac crests) cross what spinous process
L4 and L4/L5 IV disc
Dimples on the back overly
posterior superior iliac spines (PSIS)
What are the two primary curvatures
Thoracic and Sacral
What are the two secondary curvatures
Cervical and lumbar
The body of cervical vertebra are
small, wider side to side
The spinous processes of cervical vertebra are
Short, bifid, projects posteriorly
The Transverse process of cervical vertebra have
foramina
The Vertebral foramen of the cervical vertebra are
Triangular shaped
The superior and inferior articular pocesses of the cervical vertebra are directed
superoposteriorly
What movements are allowed by the cervical vertebra
Flexion and extension; lateral flexion; rotation (greatest rand of motion for the entire vertebral column
What vertebra have the greatest range of motion for the entire vertebral column
The cervical
An extra rib (or pair of ribs) arises form the 7th cervical vertebra can result in
Thoracic outlet syndrome (but not always)
What is thoracic outlet syndrome
impingement of the large vessels and nerve (brachial plexus) in this region
What are the possible causes for thoracic outlet syndrom
Extra rib or pair of ribs on C7
Fracture Clavicle
extra muscle or scar tissue in the region of the scalene muscles
poor posture of the neck and shoulder regions
Anomalous anatomical variation involving muscles and/or vasculature
The body of thoracic vertebra
larger, heart-shaped, costal facets
The spinous process of thoracic vertebra
long and sharp, project inferiorly
The Vertebral foramen of thoracic vertebra
circular
Transverse process of thoracic vertebra
Facets for ribs (except T1 and T12 )
The superior and inferior articular processes of thoracic vertebra
Superior facets directed posteriorly, inferior facets directs anteriorly
What movements are allowed by the thoracic vertebra
rotation, lateral flexion is limited, flexion and extension are prevented
What vertebrae have are under the greatest amount of strain
The lumbar vertebrae
Why are the lumbar vertebrae under the greatest amount of strain
because they transmit wight to the pelvis
Body of the lumbar vertebrae
massive, kidney-shaped
The spinous process of the lumbar vertebrae
short and blunt, rectangular shaped, project posteriorly
The vertebral foramen of the lumbar vertebrae
triangular
The transverse process of the lumbar vertebrae
thin and tapered
Superior and inferior articular processes of the lumbar vertebrae
superior directed posteromedially, inferior directs anterolaterally or laterally
movements allowed by the thoracic vertebrae
Flexion and extension, some lateral flexion, rotation prevented
What is the main function of the sacrum
provides strength and stability to the pelvis
The sacrum houses and anchors the inferior part of the
spinal cord
The Cruciate ligament is composed of what
Superior longitudinal band
Transverse ligament of atlas
Inferior longitudinal band
The intervertebral joints are the joints between the
vertebral bodies
The intervertebral joints are primarily maintained by 3 ligamentous structures
Annulus fibrosis
Anterior longitudinal ligament
posterior longitudinal ligament
The nucleus pulposus is enclosed by the _____ plate
Cartilage
Flexion and extension occur primarily in the ___ region
lumbar
Rotation of the upper trunk occurs primarily in _____ and ____ regions
cervical and thoracic
Herniated discs tend to occur in the ____ region and the herniation typically occurs in the ____ and _____ directions
lumbar region. Posterior and lateral
Causes for thoracic region disc herniation
usually a result of war and tear; disc degeneration
sudden and forceful twisting of the midback region
other conditions that predispose individuals, such as an abnormal kypohsis (Scheuermann’s disease)
Causes of Lumbar region disc herniation
Frequent bending, twisting, and improper lifting increases load on tendons that reinforce this region, as well as the intervertebral discs
acute or sudden injury (a fall in which individual lands in a sitting position, for example )
Cervical region arterial supply
vertebral and cervical arteries
Thoracic region arterial supply
posterior, intercostal arteries
Lumbar region arterial supply
Subcostal and lumbar arteries
Sacral region arterial supply
iliolumbar arteries, medial and lateral sacral arteries
What are the 4 venous plexuses around and inside the vertebral column
Internal vertebral venous plexus
External vertebral venous plexus
Basivertebral veins
intervertebral veins
abnormal or exaggerated thoracic curvature
kyphosis
Kypohsis can result from
developmental abnormalities, trauma, or degenerative disease
Abnormal or exaggerated lumbar curvature
Lordosis
Lordosis is associated with
congenital abnormalities, musculo-skeletal problems, degenerative disease
Abnormal or exaggerated lateral curvature of the spine
Scoliosis
Pathology of scoliosis
can be congenital, neuromuscular, or idiopathic
Spondylolysis
broken vertebra
may be secondary to trauma or degenerative disease
common cause of spondylolisthesis
Pars interarticularis
located between the inferior and superior articular facets, between the lamina and pedicles of vertebrae
fractures at this point associated with spondyloysis
Radiographic image of this region looks like a “scottie Dog”, with the pars fractrue indicated by the dog’s collar
Anterior/Ventral displacement of one vertebra on adjacent
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis is a common progression from _____, can also be
spondylolysis, congenital
Collapse of bone of vertebral body
Compression fracture
Compression fracture pathology
can be caused by trauma or degenerative disease
What is sacralization
fusion or partial fusion of L5 to the sacrum
is congenital
What is osteopenia
thinning or decrease in bone mass
The condition of having diminished bone density making bones prone to fracture
Osteoporosis
What is a burst fracture
also called a jefferson fracture
- lateral masses of C1 are compressed between the occipital condyles and the axis (C2), fracturing anterior and/or posterior arches of C1.
- may also involve rupture of transverse ligament, resulting in dislocation
what are some causes of burst fractures (Jefferson fracture)
sudden forceful compression of C1 (driving accidents, roll-over car accidents, etc.)
Fracture of vertebral arch of cervical vertebra (hangman’s fracture)
fracutre of pars interarticularis
What causes a hangman’s fracture
hyperextension of the neck form (judicial hanging, some severe cases of acceleration/ deceleration syndrome where head and neck are hyper extended
Where is the most common fracture of the Dens located
at the base of the dens
along the body of the axis is less common
what are the causes of a Dens fracture
Horizontal blow to the head
