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Gross Anatomy > Vertebral Column > Flashcards

Vertebral Column Flashcards

1
Q

Central bony pillar of the body; 72 to 75 cm in length (1/4 is formed by the IV discs)

A

Vertebral column

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2
Q

Functions of vertebral column

A

Support
Protection
Locomotion

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3
Q

Regions of vertebral column

A 
Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar
Sacral
Coccygeal
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4
Q

No. of vertebrae in: cervical

A

7

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5
Q

No. of vertebrae in: thoracic

A

12

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6
Q

No. of vertebrae in: lumbar

A

5

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7
Q

No. of vertebrae in: sacral

A

5 (fused)

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8
Q

No. of vertebrae in: coccygeal

A

4 (lower three fused)

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9
Q

Parts of vertebra

A

Body
Vertebral arch
Seven processes

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10
Q

Anterior part of the vertebra

A

Body

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11
Q

Posterior to the vertebral body and enclosed the vertebral foramen

A

Vertebral arch

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12
Q

Gives rise to 7 processes

A

Vertebral arch

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13
Q

2 parts of vertebral arch

A

Pedicles and laminae

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14
Q

attached to the vertebral body forming the sides of the arch

A

Pedicles

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15
Q
  • flattened
  • attached to the pedicle
  • completing the arch posteriorly
A

Laminae

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16
Q

Where the spinal cord and its coverings run though

A

Vertebral foramen

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17
Q

Contains the spinal cord and the roots of the spinal nerves, along with the meninges, fat, and vessels that surround and serve them

A

Vertebral canal

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18
Q

Formed by the succession of vertebral foramina in the articulated vertebral column

A

Vertebral canal

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19
Q

Notch on the upper and lower border of the pedicles that are formed by the projection of the body (anteriorly) and the articulating processes (posteriorly)

A

Vertebral notch

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20
Q

The superior notch of one vertebra + inferior notch of an adjacent vertebra = ?

A

intervertebral foramina

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21
Q

Serve to transmit spinal nerves and blood vessels and Where anterior and posterior nerve roots of a spinal nerve unite to form the segmental spinal nerves

A

intervertebral foramina

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22
Q

Types of processes

A

Spinous process
Transverse process
Articular process

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23
Q

Process:

  • Median
  • Projects posteriorly from the vertebral arch at the junction of the laminae
A

Spinous process

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24
Q

Number of spinous process

A

1

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25
Q

Process: Directed laterally from the junction of the pedicles and laminae

A

Transverse process

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26
Q

Number of transverse process

A

2

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27
Q

T or F: Both spinous and transverse processes serve as levers and attachments of muscles and ligaments, facilitating the muscles that fix or change the position of the vertebrae

A

T

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28
Q

Process:

  • Vertically arranged
  • Consist of 2 superior and 2 inferior processes
  • Arise from the junction of the laminae and the pedicles
A

Articular process

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29
Q

Number of articular process

A

4

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30
Q

Articular surfaces are covered with _______

A

hyaline cartilage

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31
Q

Assist in keeping adjacent vertebrae aligned, preventing one vertebra from slipping anteriorly

A

Articular processes

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32
Q

Typical cervical vertebrae

A

C3-C6

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33
Q

Vertebrae from the skeleton of the neck

A

Cervical vertebrae

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34
Q

T or F: the vertebral artery passes through the transverse processes of C1 to C7.

A

F, C1 to C6, not C7

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35
Q

Atypical cervical vertebra

A

C1, C2, C7

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36
Q

– atlas

  • Body: no body
  • Vertebral arch: has an anterior and posterior arch – ring-shaped bone
A

C1

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37
Q

– axis

  • Has a peg-like odontoid process (dens) that projects from the superior surface of the body
  • The dens represents the body of the atlas that has fused with the body of the axis
A

C2

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38
Q

Called the vertebra prominens because its prominent – palpable at the back of the neck

A

C7

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39
Q

 For articulation with the ribs
 Found in transverse process – for articulation with tubercle of rib
 Found in vertebral body – on the sides, for articulation with head of rib

A

costal facets

40
Q
  • In the upper back and provide attachment for the ribs

- Body: medium-sized, and heart-shaped

A

Thoracic vertebra

41
Q

In the lower back, between the thorax and the sacrum

- Body: massive (because of the weight they support), and kidney-shaped

A

Lumbar vertebra

42
Q

Largest lumbar vertebra

43
Q

anterior projection of the upper margin of S1; posterior margin of the pelvic inlet; signals the beginning of the rectum, also used in measuring the size of the pelvis in females

A

Sacral promontory

44
Q

formed by the vertebral foramina, extension of the vertebral canal

  • contains the anterior and posterior roots of the sacral and coccygeal spinal nerves, filum terminale, and fibrofatty material
  • also contains the lower part of the subarachnoid space down as far as the lower border of S2
A

Sacral canal

45
Q

Consists of five rudimentary vertebrae fused together to form a wedge-shaped bone; Concave anteriorly

46
Q

The sacral vertebra contains how many foramina on each side?

47
Q

Longitudinal ridges of the sacral vertebra

A

Median sacral crest
Intermediate sacral crest
Lateral sacral crest

48
Q

the laminae of S5 (and sometimes S4) fail to meet in the midline forming a space/ hiatus

A

Sacral hiatus

49
Q

Consists of four vertebrae fused together to form a single, small, triangular bone

50
Q

T or F: Only thoracic and sacral curvature remain kyphotic throughout life – these are the primary curves

51
Q

Curvature that develop during fetal development

A

Primary curvature

52
Q

The angles or the curvature form during fetal period but become prominent after infancy

A

Secondary curvature

53
Q

2 primary ligaments of the vertebral column

A

Anterior longitudinal ligament

Posterior longitudinal ligament

54
Q

Fibrous band that covers and connects the anterolateral aspects of the vertebral bodies and iv discs

A

Anterior longitudinal ligament

55
Q

Prevents hyperextension of the vertebral column; Found outside of the vertebral canal

A

Anterior longitudinal ligament

56
Q

Weak and narrow, attached to the posterior border of the discs; Runs within the vertebral canal along the posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies

A

Posterior longitudinal ligament

57
Q

Upward continuation of PLL at level of atlantoaxial joint

A

Tectorial membrane

58
Q

Prevents hyperflexion of vertebral column; Helps prevent or redirect posterior herniation of nucleus pulposus

A

Posterior longitudinal ligament

59
Q

Accessory ligaments

A 
Ligamentum flavum
Interspinous ligaments
Supraspinous ligament
Ligamemtum nuchae
Intratransverse ligaments
60
Q

in the cervical region, the supraspinous and interspinous ligaments are greatly thickened to form the strong __________

A

ligamemtum nuchae

61
Q

Ligament: Elastic tissue that joins together laminae of adjacent vertebral arches

A

Ligamemtum flavum

62
Q

Ligament: Connects adjoining spinous processes (attaching from the root to the apex of each process)

A

Interspinous ligament

63
Q

Ligament: Cord-like band that connects the tips of the spinous processeses from C7 to the sacrum

A

Supraspinous ligament

64
Q

Ligament: Strong and broad; thickened fibroelastic tissue that extends from the spine of C7 to the external occipital protuberance of the skull, with its anterior border being strongly attached to the cervical spines in between

A

Ligament nuchae

65
Q

Ligament: Connects one transverse process to another

A

Intratransverse ligament

66
Q

Main structures that bind together the vertebral bodies

A

Intervertebral disc

67
Q

Responsible for ¼ (20-25%) the length of the vertebral column

A

Intervertebral disc

68
Q

Number of invertebral discs

69
Q

Serve as shock absorbers when the load on the vertebral column is suddenly increased (e.g. when jumping from a height); Elasticity allows the rigid vertebrae to move one on the other (resilience is lost gradually with age)

A

Intervertebral discs

70
Q

Parts of intervertebral disc

A

Annulus fibrosus

Nucleus pulposus

71
Q

Peripheral part of the intervertebral disc and is composed of fibrocartilage.

A

Annulus fibrosus

72
Q

Central part of the invertebral disc and contains an ovoid mass of gelatinous material containing a large amount of water, small amount of collagen fibers, and a few cartilage cells in children and adolescents

A

Nucleus pulposus

73
Q

Joints of the vertebral column

A

Atlanto-occipital joint

Atlanto-axial joint

74
Q

Type of joint: atlanto-occipital joint

A

Synovial: condyloid

75
Q

Type of joint: atlanto-axial

A

Synovial: Pivot

76
Q

atlanto-occipital joint movements

A

Flexion, extensions, lateral flexion, NO ROTATION possible

77
Q

atlanto-occipital joint articulations

A

occipital condyles of the skull (superior) + superior surfaces of the lateral masses of the atlas (inferior)

78
Q

Ligaments of the atlanto-occipital joint

A

anterior and posterior atlanto-occipital membrane

79
Q

Connects anterior arch of atlas to the anterior margin of the foramen magnum

A

Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane

80
Q

Connects posterior arch of atlas to the posterior margin of the foramen magnum

A

posterior atlanto-occipital membrane

81
Q

Atlantoaxial joint articulation

A

 odontoid process + anterior arch of the atlas (1 joint)

 lateral masses of the bones (2 joints)

82
Q

Atlantoaxial joint movement

A

Extensive rotation of atlas

83
Q

Ligaments of atlantoaxial joint

A

Apical
Alar
Cruciate
Membrana tectoria

84
Q

Connects the apex of the odontoid process to the anterior margin of the foramen magnum

A

Apical ligament

85
Q

Connects the odontoid process to the medial sides of the occipital condyles

A

Alar ligament

86
Q

attached one on each side of the inner aspect of the lateral mass of the atlas
- binds to the odontoid process to the anterior arch of the atlas

A

Transverse ligament

87
Q

Covers the posterior surface of the odontoid process and the apical, alar, and crucial ligaments

A

Membrana tectoria

88
Q

Procedure done at the level of L4 to:

  • Withdraw a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for examination
  • For clinical diagnosis
  • Introduce drugs
  • Remove excess CSF
A

Lumbar tap

89
Q

Structures traversed by spinal needle

A
  1. Skin
  2. Superficial fascia
  3. Supraspinous ligament
  4. Interspinous ligament
  5. Ligamentum flavum
  6. Areolar tissue (containing internal vertebral venous plexus in epidural space)
  7. Dura mater
  8. Arachnoid mater
  9. Subarachnoid space
90
Q

Why is the lumbar tap at the level of L4?

A

at lower lumbar part of vertebral canal the subarachnoid space only contains the cauda equine  a needle introduced at this level usually just pushes the nerve roots to the side without causing damage

91
Q

Clinical condition:

  • Spinous process, laminae, and inferior articular process separate from the body pedicles and the superior articular process
  • Common in adolescent athletes
A

Spondylosis

92
Q

Clinical condition:
- Body of a lower lumbar vertebra (usually L5), moves forward on the body of the vertebra below and carries with it the whole of the upper portion of the vertebral column

A

Spondylolisthesis

93
Q

Clinical condition:

Pedicles are abnormally formed and accessory centers of ossification are present and fail to unite

A

Congenital spondylolisthesis

94
Q

Clinical condition:

  • Common in elderly
  • Involves degeneration of the IV discs in the lumbar region and osteoarthritis of the intervertebral joints
A

Degenerative spondylolisthesis

95
Q

Protusion of nucleus pulposus; Disc most commonly affected are those in areas where a mobile part of the column joins a relatively mobile part

A

HERNIATION OF INTERVERTEBRAL DISC

Gross Anatomy (20 decks)

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