Vertebral Column Lectures Flashcards
At what age do the primary curvatures of the VC develop?
During the fetal period
At what age does the compensatory secondary curvature of the cervical spine develop? In response to what stimulus?
At 2-3 months, when a child can hold their own head up
At what age does the compensatory secondary curvature of the lumbar spine develop? In response to what stimulus?
At 6-8 months, when a child can sit up unaided
How are the primary curvatures maintained?
By the shape of the vertebrae
How are the secondary curvatures developed?
By changes in the thickness of the intervertebral discs
Why is there a return to pronounced primary curvature in old age?
Degeneration of the IV discs resulting in loss of secondary curvatures
What is a kyphosis deformity, in laymans terms?
Hunchback
What is a lordosis deformity, in laymans terms?
Swayback
What is scoliosis?
Vertebral deformity where there is lateral deviation greater than 10 degrees, often accompanied by a rotational defect
What causes scoliosis?
It may be idiopathic, congenital, or secondary to a primary neuromuscular condition
When may lordosis physiologically occur in humans?
During pregnancy
Why is normal lordosis beneficial to human gait?
Lordosis allows humans to bring their mass over their pelvis, allowing more efficient gait than other primates
Other primates have stiff, inflexible spines so have to walk in a ‘bent-knee, bent-waist’ gait which is inefficient
Which cervical vertebrae are considered “typical”?
C3-C6
What is unique about the spinous process of cervical vertebrae?
They are short, bifid spinous processes
How does the vertebral foramen of the cervical vertebrae compare to other vertebral levels?
it is larger
What are the transverse processes?
Lateral bony projections on the cervical vertebrae
What passes through the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae?
vertebral arteries and veins
In the cervical vertebrae: are the superior articular facets convex or concave?
Convex
In the cervical vertebrae: which direction do the superior articular facets face?
Superoposteriorly
In the cervical vertebrae: are the inferior articular facets convex or concave?
Concave
In the cervical vertebrae: which direction do the inferior articular facets face?
Inferoanteriorly
What is the pars interarticularis?
The area of lamina in between the superior and inferior articular facets
Which cervical vertebrae are considered to be “atypical”?
C1, C2 and C7
