Vertebral Column Flashcards
Functions of the vertebral column (5)
1) Support the weight of the head and trunk
2) protect the spinal cord
3) allows spinal nerves to exit the spinal cord
4) provides a site for muscle attachment
5) permits movement of head and trunk
5 regions of vertebrae
Cervical (7) Thoracic (12) Lumbar (5) Sacral (1) Coccygeal (1)
General structure of an inidivudal vertebra
Body
Vertebral arch
Various processes
Vertebral body
weight-bearing portion
Vertebral arch
Protects the spinal cord posteriorly from the body
Division of the left and right halves of the vertebral arch
Pedicle and Lamina
Pedicle
“foot” of the vertebral arch, connects to the body
Lamina
“thin plate” of the vertebral arch, connects the lamina from the opposite half of the arch
Vertebral foramen
The large opening created by the vertebral arch and posterior part of the body
Vertebral canal
Adjacent vertebrae’s vertebral foramina combine to create the canal
holds the spinal cord and cauda equina
Lordosis
Exaggeration of the convex curve of the lumbar region
Kyphosis
Humpback; exaggeration of the concave curve of the thoracic region
Scoliosis
Abnormal lateral and rotational curvature of the vertebral column
Transverse process
extends laterally from each side of the arch between the lamina and pedicle
Spinous process
Junciton of two laminae - can feel this in the midline of your back
Intervertebral foramina
where two vertebrae meet
Also where spinal nerves exit the spinal cord
Intervertebral notches
form teh intervertebral foramen
Vertebral process that support movement
Suprior process (2) Inferior articular process (2)
Intervertebral disks
Made of fibrocartilagae; located bewteen bodies of adjacent vertebrae
Prevent vetebral bodies from rubbing aginst eachother
What makes up an intervertebral disk?
Annulus fibrosus
Nucleus pulposus
Annulus fibrosus
External fibrous ring of the intervertebal disk
Nucleus pulposus
Pluply, gelatinous internal part of an intervertebral disk
What causes a decrease in height as one ages?
The compression of intervertebral disks
Characteristics of cervical vertebrae (3)
Small bodies;
Bifid spinous processes (split processes)
The transverse foramen for arteries to extend toward the head
Most likely to be disolcated or fractured
Atlas
first cervical vertebra
No body and no spinous process
Allows the head to move in yes motiona dn tilt form side to side
Axis
Second cervical vertebra
Produce “no” motion
Has the Dens process which fits into the formaen of the atlas
Dens process
Unique to axis vertebra
Tooth-shaped
Fits into the foramen of the atlas, and the atlas rotates around it.
Vertebral prominens
the most prominent spinous process
Whiplash
Traumatic hyperextension of the cervical vertebrae
Herniated disk
Results with annulus fibrosus break or balloons and releases all or part of the nucleus pulposus
Treatment for herniated disk (5) options
Bed rest - allow it to heal on its own
Laminectomy - reduce compression of the spinal nerve or spinal cord
Hemilaminectomy - reduce compression of the spinal nerve or spinal cord
Fenestration -
Vertebral infusion surgery
Laminectomy
removal of a vertebral lamina
Hemilaminectomy
removal of a portion of the vertebral lamina
Fenestration
removal of the nucleus populous, but leaves the annulus fibrosus intact
Characteristics of thoracic vertebrae
Long, thing spinous processes, long transverse processes
Characteristics of lumbar vertebrae
Large, thick bodies and heavy rectangular transverse and spinous processes
Sacral vertebrae
5 vertebrae fused into a single bone called sacrum
Alae
Wing-shaped superior surfaces of lateral parts of sacrum
Sacral hiatus
the inferior end of the sacrum, site of anesthetic injections
Coccyx
tailbone
