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ESA 2- Musculoskeletal System > Vertebral Column > Flashcards

Vertebral Column Flashcards

1
Q

What is the vertebral column also known as?

A

The backbone, or spine

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2
Q

What is the vertebral column made up of?

A

Approx. 33 small bones, called vertebrae

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3
Q

Where does the vertebral column run?

A

From the cranium to the apex of the coccyx, on the posterior aspect of the body

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4
Q

What does the vertebral column do?

A

Contains and protects the spinal cord

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5
Q

What are the most important functions of the vertebral column?

A

Protection Support AxisMovement

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6
Q

What is the vertebral columns protective role?

A

Encloses spinal cord, shielding it from damage

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7
Q

What is the vertebral columns support role?

A

It carries the weight of the body above the pelvis

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8
Q

How does the vertebral column act as an axis?

A

It forms the central axis of the body

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9
Q

What is the vertebral columns movement role?

A

It has roles both in posture and movement

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10
Q

What can the vertebral column be separated into?

A

Five different regions- cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum and the coccyx

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11
Q

What is each region of the spinal cord characterised by?

A

A different vertebral structure

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12
Q

What do all vertebrae have?

A

The same basic structure, but significant differences in size and shape between groups

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13
Q

What does each vertebrae consist of?

A

Vertebral bodyPosterior vertebral arch

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14
Q

What is the vertebral body?

A

The anterior part of the vertebrae

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15
Q

What is the purpose of the vertebral body?

A

It is the weight bearing component

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16
Q

What happens to the vertebral body as the vertebral column descends?

A

The size increases

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17
Q

Why does the size of the vertebral body increase as the vertebral column descends?

A

Because it has to support increasing amounts of weight each time

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18
Q

What the superior and inferior aspects of the vertebral body lined by?

A

Hyaline cartilage

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19
Q

What are adjacent vertebral bodies separated by?

A

A fibrocartilaginous intervertebral disc

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20
Q

What do the intervertebral discs act to do?

A

Permit flexibility of the spineAct as a shock absorbers

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21
Q

What shape are the intervertebral discs in the lumbar and thoracic regions?

A

Wedge shaped

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22
Q

What does the wedge shape of the intervertebral discs allow?

A

Support for curvature of the spine

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23
Q

What are the two main regions of the vertebral disc?

A

Nucleus pulposus Annulus fibrosis

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24
Q

What is the nature of the annulus fibrosis?

A

Tough and collagenous

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25
What does the annulus fibrosis surround?
The nucleus pulposus
26
What is the nature of the nucleus pulposus?
Jelly-like
27
Where is the nucleus pulposus located?
Posteriorly
28
What happens in herniation of the intervertebral disc?
The nucleus pulposus ruptures, breaking through the annulus fibrosis
29
In what direction does herniation of the intervertebral disc most commonly occur?
In a posterior and lateral direction
30
What is the result of the posterior and lateral herniation of the intervertebral discs?
It puts pressure on the spinal cord, resulting in a variety of neurological and muscular symptoms
31
What does the vertebral arch refer to?
The lateral and posterior parts of the vertebrae
32
What does the vertebral arch from with the vertebral body?
An enclosed hole, called a vertebral foramen
33
What do the foramina of all vertebrae do?
Line up to form the vertebral canal
34
What does the vertebral canal do?
Encloses the spinal cord
35
What do the vertebral arches have?
A number of bony prominences
36
What do the bony prominences of the vertebral arches act as?
Attachment sites for muscles and ligaments
37
What are the bony prominences of the vertebral arch?
Pedicles Lamina Transverse processesArticular processes Spinous processes
38
How many pedicles are there per vertebral arch?
Two, one left and one right
39
Where to the pedicles point?
Posteriorly
40
What do the pedicles meet?
The flatter laminae
41
What is the lamina?
The bone between the transverse and spinal processes
42
Where do the transverse processes extend?
Laterally and posteriorly away from the pedicles
43
What do the transverse processes do in the thoracic vertebrae?
Articulate with the ribs
44
What are the kinds of articular processes?
Superior and inferior
45
Where do the articular processes arise?
At the junction of the lamina and the pedicles
46
What do the articular processes articulate with?
The vertebrae above and below
47
What are the spinous processes?
Posterior and inferior projections of bones
48
What are the spinous processes a site for?
Attachment for muscles and ligaments
49
Draw a diagram showing the bony prominences of vertebrae
No  
50
How many cervical vertebrae are there in the human body? 
7
51
What are the main distinguishing features of cervical vertebrae?
The spinous process bifurcates into two parts Two transverse foramina, one in each transverse process The vertebral foramen is triangular in shape
52
What is the spinous process in cervical vertebrae known as?
A bifid spinous process
53
What do the transverse foramina in cervical vertebrae do?
Conduct the vertebral arteries
54
Which cervical vertebrae are unique?
C1 and C2
55
What is the C1 vertebrae called?
Atlas
56
What is the C2 vertebrae called?
Axis
57
What are the C1 and C2 vertebrae specialised to do?
Allow movement of the head
58
How does the C7 cervical vertebrae differ from the others?
It has a much longer spinous process, which does not bifurcate
59
How many thoracic vertebrae are there?
12
60
What size are the thoracic vertebrae?
Medium sized, increasing as they move down the back
61
What is the main function of the thoracic vertebrae?
To articulate with the ribs, producing the bony thorax
62
What does each thoracic vertebrae have?
Two 'demi facets' on each side of its vertebral body
63
What do the demi facets of the thoracic vertebrae articulate with?
The head of the respective rib, and the rib inferior to it
64
What is found on the transverse processes of the thoracic vertebrae?
A costal facet for articulation with its respective rib
65
How are the spinous processes of thoracic vertebrae orientated?
Slanted inferiorly and anteriorly
66
What is the result of the slanting of the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebrae?
It offers increased protection to the spinal cord
67
How does the vertebral foramen of the thoracic vertebrae differ from the cervical?
Circular
68
Which are the largest of the vertebrae?
The lumbar
69
How many lumbar vertebrae are there?
5
70
What do the lumbar vertebrae act to do?
Support the weight of the upper body
71
What specialisations do lumbar vertebrae have to allow them to support the weight of the upper body?
Very large vertebral bodies
72
What shape are the vertebral bodies of lumbar vertebrae?
Kidney shaped
73
What characteristics of vertebrae do lumbar vertebrae lack?
No foramen transversarium, costal facets, or bifid spinous processes
74
What shape is the vertebral foramen of the lumbar vertebrae?
Triangular
75
What is the sacrum?
A collection of five fused vertebrae
76
What is the sacrum described as?
An upside down triangle, with the apex pointing inferiorly
77
What is found in the lateral walls of the sacrum?
Facets for articulation with the pelvis
78
Where does the sacrum articulate with the pelvis?
At sacro-iliac joints
79
What is the coccyx?
A small bone
80
What does the coccyx articulate with?
The apex of the sacrum
81
How is the coccyx recognised?
By its lack of vertebral arches
82
What is the result of the lack of vertebral arches in the coccyx?
It has no vertebral canal, and so the coccyx doesn't transmit the spinal cord
83
How many articulations are there for each vertebrae?
5
84
What do the vertebral bodies articulate with?
Indirectly, with each other | Articular processes also form joint
85
What kind of joints are the vertebral body joints?
Cartilaginous joints
86
What are the vertebral body joints designed to do?
Weight bearing
87
How are the vertebral bodies connected?
By a fibrocartilage intervertebral disc
88
What ligaments strengthen the vertebral bodies?
Anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments
89
Is the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligament thicker?
The anterior
90
What do the anterior longitudinal ligament do?
Prevents hyperextension of the vertebral column
91
What does the posterior longitudinal ligament?
Prevents hyperflexion
92
What are the joints between the articular facets called?
Facet joints
93
What do the facet joints allow?
Some gliding motion
94
What ligaments strengthen the facet joints?
Ligamentum Flavum Interspinous and Supraspinous ligaments Intertransverse ligaments
95
Where does ligamentum flavum extend?
From lamina to lamina
96
What do interspinous and supraspinous ligament join?
The spinous processes
97
How do the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments joint the spinous processes?
The interspinous ligaments attach between processes | The supraspinous ligaments attach to the tips
98
Where do the intertransverse ligaments extend?
Between the transverse processes
99
What clinical syndromes result from abnormal curvature of the spine?
Kyphosis Lordosis Scoliosis Cervical Spondylosis
100
What is kyphosis?
Excessive thoracic curvature, causing a humpback deformity
101
What is lordosis?
Excessive lumbar curvature, causing a swayback deformity
102
What is scoliosis?
A lateral curvature of the spine, usually of unknown cause
103
What is cervical spondylosis?
A decrease in size of the intervertebral foramina, usually due to degeneration of the joints of the spine
104
What does cervical spondylosis cause?
Pain
105
Why does cervical spondylosis cause pain?
Because the smaller size of the intervertebral foramina puts pressure on the exiting nerves

ESA 2- Musculoskeletal System (69 decks)

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