Vertebral Column - Exam 1 Flashcards
number of vertebrae
7 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacrum (fused)
4 coccyx
33 total
cervical lordosis
generated to balance weight of head over pelvis
thoracic kyphosis
thoracic vertebral bodies are thinner anteriorly
born with
lumbar lordosis
generated to balance torso and head over pelvis
sacral kyphosis
born with
scoliosis
lateral curvature of the spine and midline
can be due to neuromuscular conditions, birth defects, surgery as baby, infections
severe cases treated by surgical implantation of growth rods
severe thoracic kyphosis
develop as we age due to bone breakdown/osteoporosis and narrowing of vertebral bodies
structural elements of vertebrae to know (pics on quizlet)
vertebral body
transverse process
spinous process
pedicle
lamina
vertebral arch
superior and inferior articular process
superior and inferior vertebral notches
vertebral foramen
vertebral arch
formed by pedicles and laminae
superior and inferior articular processes
where vertebrae articulate with each other
superior and inferior vertebral notches
make the intervertebral foramen for nerve to exit
vertebral foramen
spinal cord goes through
atlas (C1)
posterior tubercle (no SP), anterior tubercle, groove for vertebral artery, facet for dens, no vertebral body
axis (C2)
dens, anterior articular facet on dens
transverse foramen
cervical vertebrae only, houses vertebral artery
costal facets for ribs
thoracic vertebrae, articulate with ribs
mammillary processes
lumbar vertebrae
bifurcated spinous process
cervical vertebrae
lateral sacral crest
fusion of sacral transverse processes
intermediate (medial) sacral crest
fusion of sacral inferior/superior articular facets
medial sacral crest
fusion of the sacral spinous processes
sacral canal
protects cauda equina and filum terminale
sacral foramen
where sacral nerves exit
sacral promontory
anterior curvature of S1 vertebral body
auricular surface (sacrm)
articulates with pelvic girdle
“dumbo”
zygapophyseal joint
synovial joint between articular facets of adjacent vertebrae
intervertebral disks
in between vertebral bodies of the vertebrae
nucleus pulposus
gelatin like interior
anulus fibrosis
fibrous/cartilaginous external covering of disk
posterolateral herniation
most common
generally pushes on a single spinal nerve (the one existing below the herniation site)
central herniation
pushes on spinal cord itself, prevented by posterior longitudinal ligament
cervical herniation
less common because there is not as much weight on the cervical disks
anterior longitudinal ligament
broad ligament on anterior of vertebral bodies
posterior longitudinal ligament
thinner ligament behind vertebral bodies (anterior to spinal cord) in vertebral foramen
ligamentum flavum
yellow ligament between lamina of vertebrae
intertransverse ligaments
between transverse processes
interspinous ligaments
between spinous processes
supraspinous ligament
overlaying spinous processes, extension of nuchal ligament
nuchal ligament (ligamentum nuchae)
from external occipital proterburance to spinous process of cervical vertebrae
serves as origin for muscles
anterior atlanto-occipital membrane
supports atlantooccipital joint, extension of anterior longitudinal ligament
posterior atlanto-occipital membrane
supports atlantooccipital joint, extension of ligaments flava
anterior atlanto-axial membrane
supports atlantoaxial joint, extension of anterior longitudinal ligament
posterior atlanto-axial membrane
supports atlantoaxial joint, extension of ligamentum flare
transverse ligament of atlas
supports atlas/dens articulation
combines with longitudinal bands to form cruciate ligament
alar ligaments
prevent excessive rotation between C1 and C2
