Vertebral Column Flashcards
How many elements is a typical vertebral column composed of?
33
How many elements of the vertebral column are separate?
24
Name the segments of the vertebral column
Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Coccygeal
What are the vertebrae divided by?
Intervertebral fibrocartilaginous discs (synovial joints)
Name the articular facets
2 superior articular facets and 2 inferior articular facets
Do the articular facets change at all as they descend the column?
Yes, their morphology changes depending on their position within the columns and produce different movements
Name the primary functions of the vertebral column
Transmit body weight
Attachment site for muscles and ligaments
Protect spinal cord
Does the vertebral foramen alter in size at all?
Yes it decreases as it descends as there is less spinal cord at the bottom of the spine
If people have a varied number of vertebrae, what segment(s) is this usually in?
Lower thoracic and lumbar (10% of people)
What is the vertebral column derived of?
Somites
Name the 2 kinds of curvature
Primary
Secondary
Describe origin of primary curvature
Present at birth (congenital)
Describe origin of secondary curvature
Developmental (acquired over time)
How many curvatures does an adult vertebral column have?
4 - 2 primary and 2 secondary
What is another name for primary curvature?
Kyphotic
What is another name for secondary curvature?
Lordotic
What segment(s) are primary curvatures (mainly)
Thoracic
What segment(s) are secondary curvatures?
Cervical and lumbar
What milestones do secondary curvatures develop with?
Lifting/supporting own head
Sitting up unsupported
Standing
List the features of a ‘typical’ vertebra
Body Spinous process 2 transverse processes Neural arch vertebral foramen Superior and inferior articular facets
Describe the formation of the neural arch
Neural arch is formed in two parts and is separate from the body
Its formed of the pedicle (attaches body to rest of vertebra) and lamina (attaches transverse and spinous processes)
What travels through the vertebral foramen?
Spinal cord
Where does vertebrae join with each other?
Superior and inferior articular facets
What is formed when two vertebrae articulate with each other?
Intevertebral foramen
What does one single vertebra form?
Intevertebral notch
What travels through the intevertebral foramen?
Nerves and blood from vertebral artery
What is the ‘cushion’ around the vertebral column called?
Intervertrebral discs
What is the outer margin of the intervertebral disc composed of?
Annulus fibrosus which is a ligament holding the disc in place
Is the intervertebral disc vascular?
No
What ligament runs down the anterior side of the colum from the occipital to the sacrum?
Anterior longitudinal ligament
What does the anterior longitudinal ligament do?
Holds the disc and annulus fibrosus together (can ossify with age)
What ligament runs inside the vertebral foramen (posterior side of vertebral bodies)?
Posterior longitudinal ligament
What does the posterior longitudinal ligament do?
Hold the intevertebral disc in place
What ligament runs over the spinous processes and holds them together?
interspinal (spinous) ligament
What ligament runs down the distal end of the spinous processes and contributes to their knob-like appearance?
supraspinal (spinous) ligament
What ligament passes between the lamina of adjacent vertebrae?
Ligamentum flavum
What ligament runs between the transverse processes?
Intertransverse ligaments
What ligaments hold the superior and inferior articular facets?
Facet capsule ligments
What joint is present between the vertebrae and ribs?
Costovertebral joint
What joint is present between the articular processes of neighbouring vertebrae?
Zygapophyseal joint
What joint is present between vertebral bodies and intervertebral joints allowing for some movement?
Amphiarthrodial joint
Describe the defect accessory cervical foramina
cervical vertebrae usually have one hole on one side but this defect produces two holes (one on either side)
Describe abdominal curvatures
Can have kyphosis where there should be lordosis
Can have lordosis where there should be kyphosis
Scoliosis where the vertebrae curves in a different plane
Describe spinal bifida occulta
The protection of the spinal cord is missing in parts
