Vertebral Column - Axial Skeleton Flashcards
What are the functions of the vertebral column?
Stiffen the axis
Maintain posture
Aid locomotion by muscle attachment
What is included in the axial skeleton?
Head, neck, thorax, tail
(No limbs or hips) - peripheral skeleton
What is the order of the vertebrae?
Cervical (neck) Thoracic (rib cage) Lumbar (back) Sacral (end of back) Caudal/coccygeal (tail)
How many cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae does a dog have?
7 13 7 3 20+
How many cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae does a pig have?
7 14/15 6/7 4 20+
How many cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae does a sheep/goat have?
7 13 6-7 4 20+
How many cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae does an ox have?
7 13 6 5 20+
How many cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae does a horse have?
7 18 6 5 20+
Which vertebrae are considered ‘typical’
C3 - C7
What passes through the vertebral foramen?
Vertebral canal and spinal cord
What passes through the intervertebral foramen?
Spinal nerves
What is the intervertebral foramen made of?
Cranial and caudal notches
How are adjacent vertebrae articulated?
Synovial joints
Caudal articulate facet sits inside cranial one
Which vertebrae are atypical?
C1 & C2
What is the function of the nucleus pulposus? What is it made from?
Act as a shock absorber
Gelatinous cushion
What is the annulus fibrosus composed of? What is it’s function?
Concentric fibrous rings
Attach to adjacent vertebrae to provide stability
What is the name of C1?
Atlas
What is the name of C2?
Axis
How is the atlas (C1) different from typical vertebrae?
Reduced body
No spinous process
Large transverse process (palpable ‘wings’)
Articulates with occipital condyles of skull cranially
Articulates with C2 causally (rotary movement of head- no joint)
How does the axis (C2) differ from typical vertebrae?
2 bodies Large, palpable dorsal spinous process Articulates with Clatlan to axial joint Only lateral rotation. No flexion
What are the functions of C3-C7?
Mobile: Flexion Extension Lateral movement Disc protrusion
What does the transverse foramen a carry?
Vertebral vessels and nerves
Which cervical vertebrae lacks the transverse foramen?
C7
Why are there 7 cervical vertebrae, but 8 spinal nerves? (C8)
Nerves exit from the cervical vertebrae canal cranially
Nerves exit from the thoracic vertebrae canal causally
This leaves a nerve between C7 and T1 called T8
How do thoracic vertebrae differ from typical ones?
Short body
Long spinous process
Small transverse process
Costal fovea cranially and causally
T1-T10 have caudally angled spinous processes
T11-T13 have short, vertical spinous processes
What are T11-T13 called?
The anti clinical vertebrae
Why is the transverse process of the thoracic vertebrae reduced?
To accommodate for the ribs
What are ribs numbered after?
Caudal vertebral articulation
What helps articulate the ribs?
The cranially and caudal costal fovea
How do lumbar vertebrae differ from typical ones?
Long body Short spinous process Large transverse processes Large cranial articular process Accessory process
Why do horses have very long transverse processes in lumbar vertebrae?
To support the very large GI tract
What is the function of the sacral vertebrae?
Articulates with pelvis
No movement, no discs (single bone)
What attaches the sacral vertebrae to the pelvis?
Sacrotuberous ligament
What do the first few coccygeal vertebrae resemble?
Small lumbar vertebrae
How much movement do the coccygeal vertebrae have?
Large amount
The first few coccygeal vertebrae have haemal arches. What are these and what is their function?
Small chevrons in bone
Protect the coccygeal artery
When does the vertebral canal disappear?
After Cy 5-7
Vertebral arteries are a branch of which major artery?
Subclavian
What structures are within an intervertebral disc?
Annulus fibrosis
Nucleus pal poses
The Atlanto occipital joint does what head movement?
Yes
The Atlanto axial joint does which head movement?
No
What does C7 lack?
Transverse foramen
What is the name of the articulation between the head of the rib and a vertebra?
Costal fovea
Which vertebrae is the anticlinal one?
T11
Coccygeal vertebrae are like small lumber. However they have an additional structure centrally. What is this and what does it do
hemal arch
Protect coccygeal artery
What ligament holds the ribs to the costal fovea?
Costotransverse ligament.
Which ligament holds rib heads together?
Intercapital ligament
What is the nuchal ligament?
Elastic ligament found at C2
Continuous of supraspinous
Disc protrusions and extrusions are most common in which vertebrae?
Mobile ones
Lumbar, cervical
What is intervertebral disc disease?
Intervertebral disc bulges into spinal cord
What is wobbler’s disease?
Cervical vertebrae instability
How many articulate facets are there between each vertebrae?
4 - 2 cranial, 2 caudal
Except Atlanto-occipital and Atlanto-axial
What bounds the thoracic cavity?
THoracic inlet
Diaphragm
Sternum
Vertebrae
What layers are there to the thoracic body wall?
SKin Cutaneous trunks Superficial fascia Deep fascia and muscles Endothoracic fascia Pleura
What bounds the abdominal cavity?
Diaphragm
Pelvic inlet
Lumbar vertebrae
Muscle wall
What does the nuchal ligament do?
Support the head
What are epaxial muscles/
Muscles above the transverse process of vertebrae
3 groups: transversospinalis, longissimus, iliocostal
What are hypaxial muscles?
Muscles below the transverse process of the vertebrae
What is the blood supply from the ribs?
Intercostal artery
Runs to costochondral junction where it joins the interthoracic artery
