Vertebral Column Flashcards
Vertebral Column Articulations
- Atlanto-occipital articulation
- Atlanto-axial articulation
- Vertebral Bodies
- Zygapophysial (facet) joints
- Costovertebral Articulation
- Costotransverse Articulation
- Lumbosacral articulation
- Sacroiliac Articulation
- Sacrococcygeal articulation
Vertebral Column Bones
33 bones
- 7 cervical
- 12 thoracic
- 5 Lumbar
- 5 Sacral (Fused)
- 3-4 Coccygeal (Fused)
Vertebra vs. Vertebrae
Vertebra - Singular
Vertebrae - Plural
Primary Spinal curvatures
- Thoracic
- Sacral/coccygeal
Secondary spinal Curvatures
- Cervical
- Lumbar
Features of A Typical Vertebra
- Vertebral Body
- 2 pedicles
- 2 lamina
- 2 Transverse Process
- Spinous Process
- Superior Articulating facets
- Inferior Articulating facets
- Vertebral Canal
- Superior Vertebral Notches
- Inferior Vertebral Notches
Typical Cervical Vertebrae
- 7 Cervical vertebrae
- Transverse foramina
- Anterior and Posterior Tubercles
- Bifid Spinous process
- Vertebral Foramen is large/triangular
- Superior Facets face Superior/Posterior
- Inferior Facets face Inferior/Anterior
Foramen vs. Foramina
Foramen (Singular)
Foramina (Plural)
Typical Lumbar Vertebrae
- 5 Lumbar Vertebrae
- Massive Bodies
- Vertebral Foramen is triangular
- Blunt processes
- Mammillary Process
- Superior facets face posterior/Medial
- Inferior Facets face anterior/lateral
Typical Thoracic Vertebrae
- 12 thoracic Vertebrae
- Costal facets on body and transverse processes
- Vertebral Foramen is smaller and circular
- Superior facets face mainly posterior and slightly lateral
- Inferior facets face mainly anterior/ slightly medial
Typical Sacrum and Coccyx
- 5 Sacral vertebrae
- 3-4 Coccygeal Vertebrae
- Decrease in size
Atypical Vertebrae
- C1 (Atlas): No body (superior articulating facets with occipital bone
- C2 (Axis): Dens (Axis for turning the head side to side)
- C7: Vertebra Prominens (long spinous process - easy to palpate)
- T1: Complete superior costal facet and inferior demifacet
- T10-T12: Largest, wedge shaped body (taller Anteriorly)
Atlanto-Occipital Articulation
Bones: Atlas and Occipital Bone
Classification: Synovial; Condyloid
Movements: Flexion/Extension (Nodding “yes”); Slight lateral flexion, tilting of the head
Atlanto-Occipital Joint ligaments
Anterior Atlanto-Occipital Membrane: Runs from anterior arch of C1 to anterior margin of foramen magnum
Posterior Atlanto-Occipital Membrane: Runs from posterior arch of C1 to posterior margin of Foramen magnum
Atlanto-Axial Articulation
Bones: Atlas (C1) and Axis (C2)
Classification: Synovial; Median Joint (dens with Atlas) - Pivot; Lateral joints (inferior Facets of C1 with superior facets of C2) - Gliding
Movements: Rotation; Shaking head “no”
Atlanto-Axial Joint ligaments
- Alar Ligament: Runs from both sides of the dens to lateral margins of foramen magnum. Checks rotation.
- Tectorial Membrane: Continuation of posterior longitudinal ligament. Runs from body of C2 to internal surface of foramen magnum
- Cruciate Ligament: Transverse Ligament of Atlas: Between medial aspects of C1 lateral mass (holds Dens in place); Superior/inferior longitudinal bands: both extend from transverse ligament, superior band to occipital bone and inferior band to body of C2
Vertebral Bodies (“joint”)
Bones/Structures involved: Vertebral bodies, intervertebral (IV) discs, layer of hyaline cartilage superior and inferior to IV Disc (No IV between C1 and C2)
Classification: Symphysis
Intervertebral Discs
Annulus Fibrosus: Lamellae of fibrocartilage arranged for strength, thinner posteriorly
Nucleus Puplosus: Mainly water and gelatinous in nature; Avascular receiving nutrition via diffusion from blood vessels at periphery of annulus fibrosus; Absorbs compression forces between vertebrae
Zygapophysial joints (Facet Joints)
Bones: Inferior articular processes of vertebra; Superior articular processes of adjacent vertebra
Classification: Synovial; Gliding
Movements: Based on orientation of facets
Costovertebral Articulations
Bones: Head of ribs; costal facet or demifacet on vertebral bodies and IV Disc between them
Classification: Synovial; gliding
Costotransverse Articulations
Bones: Tubercle of ribs; Transverse costal facets of same level vertebra (Ribs 11 and 12 don’t articulate with transverse processes)
Classification: Synovial; Gliding
Lumbosacral Articulation
Bones: L5, Sacrum
Classification: Symphysis - IV Disc
Ligaments: Iliolumbar ligament and lumbosacral ligament
Lumbosacral Articulation Ligaments
Iliolumbar ligament: from transverse process of L5 into two bands; Crest of ilium and anterior sacroiliac ligament
Lumbosacral ligament: from transverse process of L5 to sacrum and lower band of iliolumbar ligament
Sacroiliac Articulation
Bones: Sacrum and Ilium
Classification: Synovial; Gliding
Sacroiliac Articulation Ligaments
Anterior sacroiliac ligament: runs from sacrum to ilium in anterior/inferior direction
Interosseous sacroiliac ligament: Posterior, connecting tuberosities of sacrum and ilium; Strongest of three ligaments
Posterior sacroiliac ligament: Sacrum to Ilium tuberosity and posterior superior spine of ilium
Sacrococcygeal articulation
Bones: Sacrom (apex) Coccyx (Base)
Classification: Symphysis
Ligaments: Anterior, posterior, and lateral sacrococcygeal ligaments. Intercornual sacrococcygeal ligament.
Ligaments of the Vertebral Column
- Anterior Longitudinal Ligament
- Posterior longitudinal Ligament
- Ligamenta Flava (Flavum)
- Supraspinous Ligament
- Ligamentum Nuchae
- Interspnous Ligaments
- Intertransverse Ligaments
Anterior Longitudinal Ligament
Extends from sacrum to occipital bone (anterior to foramen magnum)
Attached to anterior and lateral surfaces of vertebral bodies and IV Discs.
Three layers.
Helps to prevent hyperextension of vertebral column.
Only Ligament that checks extension.
Posterior Longitudinal Ligament
Extends from sacrum to C2
Runs through vertebral canal attached to posterior surface of vertebral bodies and IV discs.
Multiple layers.
Helps reinforce posterior border of IV Discs.
Ligamenta Flava
Travels between lamina of vertebrae - posterior surface of one lamina to anterior surface of lamina above.
Keeps flexion in check by resisting separation of the laminae in flexion.
Supraspinous ligament
Runs along outer surface of spinous processes C7 to sacrum.
Strong, Fibrous.
Assists in limiting flexion.
Ligamentum Nuchae
Extends from external occipital protuberance to C7 Spinous process.
Also has attachment for posterior border of foramen magnum.
Fans out due to shortness of cervical spinous processes.
Helps to support the heads and check flexion; Serves as attachment for some muscles.
Interspinous ligaments
Run between adjacent vertebra along the whole length of the spinous process.
Blend with Ligamenta flava (anterior) and Supraspinous Ligament (posterior)
Intertransverse LIgaments
Connect adjacent transverse processes
Spinal Cord
Continuation of the medulla oblongata.
Extends from foramen magnum to level L2.
Conus medullaris-terminal end of the spinal cord.
Cauda equina - “horses Tail” : remaining nerve roots after the conus medullaris
Filum Terminale: Long strand of connective tissue (pia mater) anchoring spinal dural sac to dorsum of coccyx; Remnant of caudal part of spinal cord in embryological development.
