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Clinical Anatomy > Vertebral Column Osteology > Flashcards

Vertebral Column Osteology Flashcards

1
Q

Where does the Vertebral Column start and finish?

A

Extends from skull to apex of coccyx

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2
Q

What is the total length of the vertebral column in males?

A

~70cm

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3
Q

What is the total length of the vertebral column in females?

A

~60cm

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4
Q

How many bones are there in the vertebral column?

A

33 Vertebrae: 7 cervical + 12 thoracic + 5 lumbar +
5 sacral (fused to form sacrum) +
4 coccygeal (fused to form coccyx)

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5
Q

What are the general functions of the vertebral column?

A

Protects spinal cord and spinal nerves

Supports the weight of body

Important in maintaining posture and for locomotion

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6
Q

Why is the spine curved?

A

The advantages of a curve spine is that it acts like a series of springs
It enables the spine to act like a natural shock absorber since has flexibility in a sagittal plane when vertically loaded
The intervertebral discs absorb shock and allow a lighter more flexible structure
Since the discs are partially off-set, then the mass of the above vertebra is not solely placed directly on the disc, but spread between the disc and the facet joints

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7
Q

What is the definition of Kyphosis?

A

convex curvature of the spine e.g. thoracic region

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8
Q

What is the definition of Lordosis?

A

concave curvature of the spine e.g. lumbar region

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9
Q

What is the definition of Scoliosis?

A

sidewards curve of the spine in sagittal view

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10
Q

What are the primary curvatures of the vertebral column?

A

Thoracic and Sacral
Concave anteriorly (kyphotic)
Formed during foetal period

Caused by differences in height between anterior and posterior parts of vertebral body

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11
Q

What are the secondary curvatures of the vertebral column?

A

Cervical and Lumbar
Convex anteriorly (lordotic)
Only become obvious in infancy

Caused by differences in thickness between anterior and posterior parts of intervertebral discs

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12
Q

What do typical vertebrae consist of?

A

Body
Vertebral (Neural) Arch
Transverse AND spinous processes
Articular processes
Opposed surfaces of adjacent bodies are bound together by intervertebral discs
Vertebral foramina form vertebral canal for spinal cord
Between adjoining vertebral arches are intervertebral foramina for spinal nerves

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13
Q

True or false? Vertebrae vary in size and characteristics from one region to another and within regions

A

True

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14
Q

What does the vertebral body look like?

A

Viewed from above, most bodies are convex anteriorly and concave posteriorly where they complete the vertebral foramen

When viewed laterally, they are box shaped, with a concave surface anteriorly and a flat surface posteriorly

Superior and inferior surfaces are smooth with tiny perforations and a rim running around the perimeter of smoother raised bone called the ring apophysis

Nutrient foramina on posterior surface

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15
Q

What is the function of the vertebral body?

A

Weight bearing
(esp. longitudinal forces)
Due to their shape, they cannot resist sliding or twisting movements
Not a solid structure (lighter & more suitable to dynamic load bearing)
Solid structures fracture more easily

Weight bearing ability is enhanced by internal structure:
Shell of solid cortical bone
Cancellous cavity created from numerous trabeculae (vertical and transverse struts of bone)

Weight is first borne by vertical trabeculae  as they start to bow under pressure, they are supported by transverse trabeculae

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16
Q

What does the vertebral arch consist of?

A

Pedicle
Lamina

Projecting from their junctions:
Transverse processes (paired)
Articular processes (paired, superior and inferior)
Spinous process (single, dorsally placed in median plane)

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17
Q

What are the vertebral pedicles?

A

Two short, stout, rounded processes

Projects posteriorly from superior part of vertebral body at junction of its posterior and lateral surfaces

Superior vertebral notch (above the pedicle) is shallower than inferior vertebral notch (below the pedicle)

Adjacent vertebral notches  intervertebral foramen

Help to transmit tension and bending forces

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18
Q

What is pars interarticularis?

A

part of vertebra between inferior and superior articular process of facet joint

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19
Q

What is the lamina?

A

Directly continuous from each pedicle towards the midline

Meet and fuse in the midline

Flattened in vertical plane

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20
Q

What is a spinous process?

A

Projects dorsally and often caudally from junction of laminae
Act as attachments and levers for muscles which control posture and active movements of vertebral column

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21
Q

What are articular processes?

A

Articular Processes
Superior and inferior articular processes arise at junction of lamina and pedicle

Superior articular processes extend superiorly, articular facets facing posteriorly
Inferior articular processes extend inferiorly, articular facets facing anteriorly

Accessory processes near attachment of transverse processes to pedicles

Receive forces acting on vertebra, including some weight bearing
Restricts certain movements
Prevents vertebrae from slipping anteriorly
Protects vertebral canal

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22
Q

What are transverse processes?

A

Projects posterolaterally from junction of pedicles and laminae on each side

Act as levers for muscles and ligaments
Particularly concerned with rotation and lateral flexion

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23
Q

What is the vertebral foramen formed by?

A

Vertebral body (posterior aspect)
Pedicles
Laminae
Spinous process (base)

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24
Q

What is contained within the vertebral foramen?

A

Spinal cord
Nerve roots
Meninges
Spinal Vasculature

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25
Q

What is the intervertebral foramen?

A

Principle route to and from vertebral canal

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26
Q

What is the intervertebral foramen formed of?

A

Vertebral notches
(superior & inferior)
Vertebral bodies
(adjacent posterolateral parts)
Intervertebral disc
(posterior aspect)
Articular processes
Capsule of zygapophyseal (facet) synovial joint

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27
Q

What is contained within the intervertebral foramen?

A

Spinal nerves
Smaller recurrent nerves
Blood and lymphatic vessels

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28
Q

What does the cervical body look like?

A

Viewed Anteriorly:
Superior surface is concave and inferior surface is convex
Superior borders of vertebral bodies are raised posteriorly, referred to as uncinate processes

Viewed Superiorly:
Convex anterior surface and flat/minimally concave posterior surface
A-P distance is half its side to side distance (width)

Viewed Laterally
Not wedge shaped

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29
Q

What does the thoracic body look like?

A

Larger than cervical, smaller than lumbar
 Impression on left side by descending thoracic aorta

Viewed Laterally:
Slightly wedge shaped (deeper posteriorly)
Waisted cylinder

Viewed Superiorly:
Transverse and AP dimensions almost equal
Heart shaped
Circular vertebral foramina

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30
Q

What does the lumbar body look like?

A

Costal Facets:
Upper 6 vertebrae: Concave & face anterolaterally
Lower 6 vertebrae: Flatter & face superolaterally & slightly forwards

Larger superior facets:
Upper border of body, anterior to pedicles

Smaller inferior facets:
Lower border of body anterior to vertebral notches

Large, sturdy and kidney shaped
Wider transversely

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31
Q

What are the movements of the spine - the head in relation to c7?

A

flexion: approximately 85º (of which 10º in the atlanto-occipital joint and 30º in the atlanto-axial joint)
extension: approximately 55º (of which 20º in the atlanto-occipital joint)
lateroflexion: approximately 35°
rotation: approximately 85º (of which 35º in the atlanto-axial joint)

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32
Q

What are the movements of the spine - T1 in relation to T12?

A

T1 in relation to T12:
flexion/extension: very limited
lateroflexion: approximately 35°
rotation: approximately 55°

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33
Q

What are the movements of the spine - L1 in relation to S1?

A

flexion: approximately 25°
extension: approximately 55°
lateroflexion: approximately 35°
rotation: approximately 15°

34
Q

What do cervical pedicles look like?

A

Project posterolaterally
Midway between posterior surface of vertebral body, so that superior and inferior vertebral notches are a similar depth

35
Q

What do thoracic pedicles look like?

A

Do not diverge as in cervical vertebra

36
Q

What do lumbar pedicles look like?

A

Short stout cylinders

37
Q

What do cervical laminae look like?

A

Project posteromedially
Longer than pedicles
Thin and slightly curved
Thin superior and slightly thicker inferior border

38
Q

What do thoracic laminae look like?

A

Short, thick and broad
Overlap from above downwards

39
Q

What do lumbar laminae look like?

A

Sturdy

40
Q

What do Cervical Vertebral Foramen look like?

A

Large
Triangular
Accommodates the cervical enlargement of the spinal cord

41
Q

What do Thoracic Vertebral Foramen look like?

A

Is small and circular as the spinal cord is smaller and more circular

42
Q

What do Lumbar Vertebral Foramen look like?

A

Varies in shape from oval to triangular

43
Q

What the Cervical Intervertebral Foramina look like?

A

Large and triangular
Face anterolaterally 45 degrees
Superior and inferior vertebral notches of almost equal depth

44
Q

Which way do the Thoracic Intervertebral Foramina face?

A

Face laterally

45
Q

What do the Lumbar Intervertebral Foramina look like?

A

Oval to triangular
Face laterally
Lie between two principle lines of vertebral attachment of psoas major muscle

46
Q

What do Cervical Transverse Processes look like?

A

Transverse foramina
Anterior and posterior tubercles
Shorter than thoracic and lumbar transverse processes
Face approximately 45 anterolaterally

47
Q

What do Thoracic Transverse Processes look like?

A

Directed posterolaterally
Near tip is anterior oval facet (tubercle of corresponding rib)
Longer than cervical transverse processes
Shorten in caudal succession

48
Q

What do Lumbar Transverse Processes look like?

A

Thin and long
Project laterally
Small accessory process marks posteroinferior aspect of root

49
Q

What are Cervical Articular Processes?

A

Superior Articular Processes: Facets are flat & ovoid and face superoposteriorly
Inferior Articular Processes: Inferior facets are flat and ovoid and face inferoanteriorly

50
Q

What are Thoracic Articular Processes?

A

Superior Articular Processes: Thin and almost flat and face posteriorly and slightly superolaterally
Inferior Articular Processes: Project inferiorly from laminae and

51
Q

What are Lumbar Articular Processes?

A

Superior Articular Processes: Vertical concave articular facets that face posteromedially
On posterior surface of each is a rough rounded mamillary process (attachment for multifidus and medial intertransverse muscles)
Inferior Articular Processes: Vertical convex articular facets that face anterolaterally

52
Q

What do Cervical Spinous Processes look like?

A

Short and usually bifid
C6 process is longer and often is not bifid
Project posteroinferiorly
Thinner than lumbar, shorter than thoracic

53
Q

What do Thoracic Spinous Processes look like?

A

Long and slender
Slant posteroinferiorly
Overlap

54
Q

What do Lumbar Spinous Processes look like?

A

Broad, flat and thickened along posterior and inferior borders
Project horizontally posteriorly

55
Q

What is the C1 Atlas?

A

First cervical vertebra and supports skull
Ring shaped bone

56
Q

What is the C1: Body, Pedicles, Laminae and Spinous Process?

A

No body, pedicles, laminae or spinous process

57
Q

What is the C1: Anterior Arch?

A

Convex anteriorly
Shorter than posterior arch
Small anterior midline tubercle (anterior longitudinal ligament)
On posterior surface is concave almost circular facet for articulation with dens of C2
Transverse ligament holds dens against anterior arch

58
Q

What is the C1: Posterior Arch?

A

Convex posteriorly
Longer than anterior arch
Small posterior midline tubercle (ligamentum nuchae)
Superior surface has groove for vertebral artery

59
Q

What are the C1: Lateral Masses?

A

Ovoid
Their long axes converge anteriorly
Medially the masses have a tubercle for the attachment of transverse ligament of atlas

Superior articular facet (articulates with occipital condyle of skull) are kidney shaped and concave
Inferior articular facets (articulate with C2) are circular and flat/slightly concave
Inferior facet faces posteromedially

60
Q

What is the C2 (Axis)?

A

Second and strongest cervical vertebra

61
Q

What is the C2: Body?

A

Consists of less compact bone than dens
On anterior surface is deep depression on each side (attachment of vertical part of longus colli muscle)
Anterior border projects downward (attachment for anterior longitudinal ligament)

62
Q

What are the C2: Pedicles?

A

Stout
Projects laterally and downward
Anterolateral surface grooved by vertebral artery
Inferior intervertebral notch

63
Q

What does the C2: Laminae look like?

A

Thick

64
Q

What does the C2: Transverse Processes look like?

A

Project inferiorly and laterally
Rounded tip
Transverse foramen directed laterally

65
Q

What are the C2: Articular processes?

A

Superior Articular Processes:
Large, flat and circular (atlas)

Inferior Articular Processes:
Face anteroinferiorly (C3)

66
Q

What does the C2: Spinous Processes look like?

A

Large
Bifid tip with a broad base
Concave anteriorly and inferiorly

67
Q

What is the C2: Dens?

A

Conical structure projecting superiorly from body around which atlas rotates
Apex is pointed, from where apical ligament arises
Posterior surface has broad groove for transverse ligament of atlas
Held in place by transverse ligament (prevents horizontal displacement of C1)
Posterolateral surfaces (above groove for transverse ligament) are flattened, from where alar ligaments arise
Anterior surface has ovoid articular facet for anterior arch of atlas

68
Q

What is the C7 (Vertebra Prominens)?

A

Characterized by long spinous process
Thick and prominent transverse processes are largest in cervical spine

Transverse foramen does not contain the vertebral artery, only vertebral veins (may be small or absent)
Anterior tubercle on transverse process is small, whereas posterior tubercle is prominent

69
Q

What are Atypical Thoracic Vertebrae (T1-T4)?

A

Some features of cervical vertebrae
Bodies are smaller and narrower
Superior articular facets tend to face more superiorly

70
Q

What does T1 look like?

A

Body typically cervical with a transverse diameter almost twice the anteroposterior
Long almost horizontal spinous process nearly as prominent as C7

71
Q

What does T2 look like?

A

Body retains cervical shape but difference in AP to lateral diameters are less

72
Q

What does T3 look like?

A

Body is smallest with a convex anterior aspect unlike T1 &T2, which are flattened

73
Q

What does T4 look like?

A

Body is typically heart shaped

74
Q

What do Atypical Thoracic Vertebrae (T9-T12) look like?

A

Some features of lumbar vertebrae

Larger broader bodies

Spinous processes more horizontal

75
Q

What does T9 look like?

A

Often fails to articulate with 10th ribs
Inferior demifacets often absent

76
Q

What does T10 look like?

A

Only articulates with 10th ribs and only superior costal facets appear on body
Transverse process may not bear a facet for 10th rib tubercle

77
Q

What does T11 look like?

A

Only articulates with heads of 11th ribs
Costal facets are small, circular and close to upper border of body extending onto pedicles
No costal facets on small transverse processes
11th and 12th spinous processes are triangular with blunt apices

78
Q

What does T12 look like?

A

Costal facets just below upper border of body & extend onto pedicles
Transverse process is small & irregular

79
Q

What is Atypical Lumbar Vertebra - L5?

A

Body is wedge shaped, thicker anteriorly than posteriorly

Massive transverse process continuous with whole of pedicle and part of body

Inferior articular facet faces anteriorly preventing vertebra from sliding anteriorly on sloping superior surface of sacrum

Largest of movable vertebrae, and responsible for lumbosacral angle
Body weight is transferred from L5 to base of sacrum

80
Q

What is the sacrum?

A

Composed of 5 fused sacral vertebrae

Articulates with L5 at 130-160º
Four pairs of smaller dorsal and larger pelvic foramina for exit of dorsal and ventral divisions of sacral nerves
Inferior smaller half is not weight bearing

Wider in proportion to length in females
Body of 1st sacral vertebra larger in males

Provides strength and stability to pelvis
Transmits body’s weight through sacroiliac joints to pelvic girdle

81
Q

What is the sacrum comprised of?

A

Body: Large and wider transversely

Sacral promontory: Projecting anterior margin of body of S1 vertebra

Pedicles: Short & divergent posterolaterally

Laminae: Slant down posteromedially to meet at tubercle

Superior articular processes: Project cranially with concave articular facets directed posteromedially to articulate with inferior articular processes of L5 vertebra

Transverse processes: Extend laterally from body
Sacral/Vertebral foramen: Triangular

Sacral canal: Contains cauda equina, meninges, cerebrospinal fluid, internal venous plexus, spinal nerves & fat

Sacral hiatus: deficient posterior wall of the sacral canal inferiorly. Contains terminal filum, fatty connective tissue, S5 & coccygeal nerves

Sacral cornua: Project inferiorly on each side of hiatus

Auricular surface: Roughened area in upper part of lateral sacrum, where sacrum articulates with ilium
Sacral Base
Directed superiorly and slightly anteriorly
Formed by upper surface of S1

Sacral Apex
Inferior aspect of 5th sacral vertebral body bears an oval facet for articulation with coccyx

82
Q

What is the coccyx?

A

Sacral Base
Directed superiorly and slightly anteriorly
Formed by upper surface of S1

Sacral Apex
Inferior aspect of 5th sacral vertebral body bears an oval facet for articulation with coccyx

Clinical Anatomy (21 decks)

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