Vertebral Column

Question 1

How many vertebrae are in each spinal division?

Answer 1

7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, 4 coccyx

Question 2

Describe the vertebral canal.

Answer 2

Vertebral foramen (foramina) of vertebra align to form vertebral canal, which is where the spinal cord runs through

Question 3

Describe the key features of cervical vertebrae.

Answer 3

. Bifid spinous process, except atlas
. 2 transverse foramina, one foramen in each transverse process (except atlas, which doesn’t have any transverse foramina)
. Triangular vertebral foramen

Question 4

Which cervical vertebrae don’t abide to all the key features?

Answer 4

. Atlas (C1) doesn’t have any transverse foramina

. C7 has a long spinous process which doesn’t bifurcate (not bifid)

Question 5

Describe the key features of thoracic vertebrae.

Answer 5

. Circular vertebral foramen
. Costal facet on transverse process (to articulate with corresponding rib)
. 2 demi-facets on each side of vertebral body (to articulate with corresponding rib and rib below)

Question 6

Describe the key features of lumbar vertebrae.

Answer 6

. Triangular vertebral foramen
. Largest of the vertebra, large kidney-shaped vertebral body
. No costal facets, transverse foramina, or bifid spinous processes

Question 7

Describe the key features of the sacrum.

Answer 7

. 5 vertebrae fused together
. Inverted triangle with apex pointing inferiorly
. Facets on lateral walls for articulation with pelvis (sacro-iliac joints)

Question 8

Describe the key features of the coccyx.

Answer 8

. Small bone, articulates with apex of sacrum

. No vertebral arches, no vertebral canal (so coccyx doesn’t transmit spinal cord)

Question 9

What kind of joints are vertebral joints?

Answer 9

Cartilaginous

Question 10

What does ligamentum flavum do?

Answer 10

Joins adjacent laminas

Question 11

What do the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments do?

Answer 11

Join adjacent spinous processes

Question 12

What do intertransverse ligaments do?

Answer 12

Join adjacent transverse processes

Question 13

What is lordosis?

Answer 13

Excessive lumbar curvature, leads to swayback deformity

Question 14

What is scoliosis?

Answer 14

Lateral curvature of spine

Question 15

What is cervical spondylosis?

Answer 15

Decrease in size of intervertebral foramina due to degeneration of IV discs- puts pressure on nerves which causes pain

Question 16

In which direction is the nucleus pulposus most likely to herniate? Why is this?

Answer 16

Posterolaterally, as this is where the annulus fibrosus is weakest!