Vertebral Column Intro Flashcards
80 bones of head, neck and torso
-74 bone of upright axis
-6 tiny middle ear bones
Axial skeleton
126 bones that form the appendages
-upper and lower extremities
Appendicular skeleton
Forms the flexible longitudinal axis of the skeleton
Vertebral column
What movements does the vertebral column allow for?
Forward
Backward
Sideways movement
How many vertebrae does the vertebral column consist of?
24 vertebrae, plus the sacrum and coccyx
How many vertebrae are in the cervical spine?
7
How many vertebrae are in the thoracic spine?
12
How many vertebrae are in the lumbar spine?
5
In adults, how many vertebrae does the sacrum consist of?
5 fused vertebrae
In adults, how many vertebrae does the coccyx consist of?
4 fused vertebrae
What is the anterior part of the vertebrae called in a typical vertebrae?
Body
What is the posterior part of a typical vertebrae called?
Vertebral arch
What does the body and vertebral arch enclose?
The vertebral foramen
What does the vertebral foramen hold?
Spinal cord
How are the bodies of the vertebrae’s bound together?
Bound to the bodies above and below by fibrocartilaginous discs
What type of bone is the body formed by?
Spongy bone with a thin layer of compact bone
T/F
The anterior surface of the body is convex, and the posterior surface is concave
True
What are the upper and lower surfaces of the body called?
What shape are they?
Vertebral end plates
Flat
T/F
The size of the body will vary with position
True
Short process projecting backwards from the sides of the body
Pedicles
2 flat bones continuous with the pedicles projecting backwards and medially. They fuse together midline posteriorly completing the vertebral foramen
Laminae
Projects backwards in the midline, acts as a level for muscles
Spinous process
Project laterally from where the pedicles and laminae meet, attachment for muscles
Transverse process
What is the vertebral foramen formed by?
Body (anteriorly), pedicles (laterally), laminae (posteriorly)
*spinal cord passes through
T/F
There are two pairs of articular processes on each vertebrae, 2 superior and 2 inferior
True
Have facets that face backward and articulate with the forward facing inferior facets of the vertebrae above
Superior articulating processes
Facets that face forward and articulate with the superior facets of the vertebrae below
Inferior articulating processes
Slender segment of bone between the superior and inferior articulating surfaces
*pillars
Pars interarticularis
Lie between the pedicles of the adjacent vertebrae, formed by the superior and inferior vertebral notches, transmit spinal nerves and vessels
Intervertebral foramina
