Vertebral Column/ Spinal Column Flashcards
What is the number of vertebrae in a typical adolescent?
33 segments
What is the number of vertebrae in a typical adult?
26 segments
What constitutes the spine?
24 presacral segments
Cervical, thoracic, lumbar vertebrae
How many segments unite to form the typical sacrum?
5 segments
How many segments unite to form the typical coccyx?
4 segments
Which mammals do not have seven cervical vertebrae?
Two-toed sloth
Manatee
Ant bear
Three-toed sloth
Which mammals have more than seven cervical vertebrae?
Ant bear
Three-toed sloth
Which mammals have less than seven cervical vertebrae?
Manatee
Two-toed sloth
What does the term “cervical” refer to?
Region of the neck
What does the term “thoracic” refer to?
Breast plate or chest
Referred to the armor bearing region of the torso
What other term is often used to identify the vertebral segments of the chest?
Dorsal segments
Dorsals
What is the typical number of segments in the dorsal or thoracic region?
12 segments
What does the term “lumbar” refer to?
The loin
Region between the rib and hip
What is the typical number of segments in the lumbar region?
5 segments
What does the term “sacrum” refer to?
Holy bone or holy region
What does the term “coccyx” refer to?
Cuckoo bird’s bill or beak
What is the length of a typical male spinal column?
About 70 centimeters or 28 inches
What is the length of a typical female spinal column?
About 60 centimeters or 25 inches
What is the length difference between a typical male and typical female spinal column?
About 3 inches
What is the length of the male cervical region (both measurements)?
About 12 centimeters or 5 inches
What is the length of the male thoracic region (both measurements)?
About 28 centimeters or 11 inches
What is the length of a male lumbar region (both measurements)?
About 18 centimeters or 7 inches
What is the length of the male sacrum (both measurements)?
About 12 centimeters or 5 inches
Based on the numbers for individual regions of the vertebral column, what is the length of the male spine (both measurements)?
About 58 centimeters or 23 inches
What levels of the vertebral column specifically accommodate weight-bearing transfer?
S1-S3 at the auricular surface
What is specifically responsible for shape and position of the human frame?
Comparative anterior vs. posterior height of the vertebral body
Comparative anterior vs. posterior height of the intervertebral discs
What organ(s) is (are) specifically associated with the horizontal axis of the skull?
The eye
Vestibular apparatus of the inner ear
When does the embryonic disc form?
Second week in utero
When does gastrulation occur or a 3-layered embryo form?
Third week in utero
Invagination of ectoderm along the primitive streak gives rise to what embryonic structure?
Notochord
What is the name given tot he mesoderm that will give rise to the vertebral column?
Paraxial mesoderm
What embryonic structure gives rise tot he somites?
Paraxial mesoderm
Name the areas of cellular differentiation formed within the somite?
Sclerotome
Mytome
Dermatome
What are the names of the successive vertebral columns formed during development?
Membranous
Cartilaginous
Skeletal or osseous
Migration of a somite pair to surround the notochord forms what developmental feature?
Perichordal blastema
The perichordal blastema gives rise to what processes?
Neural processes
Costal processes
What is the name of the artery located between adjacent perichordal blastemae?
Intersegmental artery
What forms between the sclerotomites of a perichordal blastema?
Intersclerotomal fissure (fissure of von Ebner)
The intrasclerotomal fissure (fissure of von Ebner) gives rise to what developmental feature?
Perichordal disc
The union of a dense caudal sclerotomite and a loose cranial sclerotomite from adjacent perichordal blastemae gives rise to what feature?
Vertebral blastema
What vessel will be identified adjacent to the vertebral blastema?
Segmental artery
When will cartilage first form in the membranous vertebral blastema?
Beginning in the 6th embryonic week
What is the name given to the replacement of mesoderm by cartilage?
Chondrification
What are the names given to the centers of chondrification within the vertebral blastema?
Centrum center
Neural arch center
Transverse process center
How many centers of chondrification typically appear in the vertebral blastema?
Six: 2 form centrum, 2 for neural arches, 2 for each transverse process
What is the earliest that the centers of ossification appear in the cartilaginous vertebrae?
During the 7th embryonic week
What is the name given to centers of ossification based on time of appearance?
Primary centers appear in utero
Secondary centers appear after birth
What is the ratio of primary to secondary centers of ossification for a typical vertebrae?
3 primary centers: 5 secondary
What are the names of the primary centers of ossification for a typical vertebrae?
Centrum centers
Neural arch centers
What are the names/locations of the five secondary centers of ossification for a typical vertebrae?
Tip of the transverse process
Tip of the spinous prcocess
Epiphyseal plate centers
What is the range of appearance for secondary centers of ossification of a typical vertebrae?
During puberty (typically 11-16 years old)
What are the three basic osseous parts of a vertebrae?
Vertebral body
Vertebral arch
Apophyseal regions
What is the general shape of the vertebral body at each region of the spine?
Cervical = rectangular Thoracic = triangular Lumbar = reniform
What is the name given to the compact bone at the superior and inferior surfaces of the vertebral body?
Superior epiphyseal rim
Inferior epiphyseal rim
What is the name given to the cartilage found at the superior and inferior surface of a developing vertebral body?
Superior epiphyseal plate
Inferior epiphyseal plate
What are the names of the openings found around the margins of the vertebral body?
Nutrient foramina or vascular foramina
What large opening is usually observed at the back of the vertebral body?
Basivertebral venous foramen
What is the name given to the anterior part of the vertebral arch?
Pedicle
What is the name of the feature located at the upper and lower surfaces of the pedicle?
Superior vertebral notch or superior vertebral incisure
Inferior vertebral notch or inferior vertebral incisure
What is the generic orientation of the pedicle at each region of the spine?
Cervical = posterolateral Thoracic = posterior, slight lateral Lumbar = posterior
All lamina are oriented in what direction?
Posterior and median
What ligament will attach to the lamina?
Ligamentum flavum
What is the name given to abnormal bone at the attachment site of the ligamentum flavum?
Para-articular process
What classification of bone will para-articular processes represent?
Accessory bone
What is the name given to the overlap of laminae on x-ray?
Shingling
What is the name given to the lamina-pedicle junction at each region of the spine?
Cervical = articular pillar
Thoracic and lumbar = pars interarticularis
What is the name given to the junction of the vertebral arch-spinous process on lateral x-ray?
Spinolaminar junction
What is the name given to the tubular bone growth regions of the vertebral arch?
Apophyseal regions
What names may be given to each apophysis of the spine?
Transverse apophysis or transverse process
Articular apophysis or articular process
Spinous apophysis or spinous process
What is the generic orientation of the transverse process or transverse apophysis at each region of the spine?
Cervical = anterolateral Thoracic = posterolateral Lumbar = lateral
All non-rib bearing vertebra of the spine retain what equivalent structure?
Costal element
What is the name given to the rounded elevation at the end of the transverse apophysis or transverse process?
Transverse tubercle
What will cause the transverse process/ transverse apophysis to alter its initial direction in the cervical region?
Cervical spinal nerves are pulled forward to form the cervical and brachial nerve plexuses thus remodeling the transverse processes to accommodate their new position
What will cause the transverse processes/ transverse apophysis to alter its initial direction in the thoracic region?
Growth of the lungs remodel the shape of the ribs which in turn push the transverse processes backward
What will the articular process/ articular apophysis support?
The articular facet
What is the name given to the joint formed between articular facets of a vertebral couple?
Zygapophysis
What is the name given to the bone surface at the front of a zygapophysis?
Superior articular facet
What is the name given to the bone surface at the back of a zygapophysis?
Inferior articular facet
What names are given to the part of the vertebra which supports the front of the zygapophysis?
Superior articular apophysis
Superior articular process
Pre-zygapophysis
What names are given to the part of the vertebra which supports the back the zygapophysis?
Inferior articular apophysis
Inferior articular process
Post-zygaophysis
What is the name given to the part of the vertebra forming the pre-zygapophysis?
Superior articular process or superior articular apaophysis
What is the name given to the part of the vertebra forming the post-zygapophysis?
Inferior articular process or inferior articular apaophysis
What will form the posterior boundary of a typical intervertebral foramen?
Inferior articular process/ post-zygapophysis
Superior articular process/ pre-zygapophysis
Capsular ligament
Ligamentum flavum
What will form the superior boundary of a typical intervertebral foramen?
Inferior vertebral notch or inferior vertebral incisure
What will form the inferior boundary of a typical intervertebral incisure?
Superior vertebral notch or superior vertebral incisure
What will form the anterior boundary of a typical intervertebral foramen?
Vertebral body of the segment above
Vertebral body of the segment below
Intervertebral disc
Posterior longitudinal ligament
What is the method of calculating the angle of the spinous process/ spinous apophysis?
Calculate the angle formed between the undersurface of a spinous process and the horizontal plate
What is the name given to the normal overlap of spinous processes/ spinous apophyses as seen on X-ray?
Imbrication
What is the name given to the rounded elevation at the tip of the spinous process/ spinous apophysis?
Spinous tubercle
What is the orientation of the spinous process/ spinous apophysis at each region of the spine?
Cervical = slight angle inferiorly Thoracic = noticeable angle inferiorly Lumbar = no inferior angle
What is the typical shape/ outline of the vertebral foramen at each region of the spinal column/ vertebral column?
Cervical = triangular Thoracic = oval Lumbar = triangular Sacrum = triangular
At what vertebral level will the spinal cord typically terminate?
L1
At what vertebral level will the dural sac typically terminate?
S2
What are the segmental arteries?
Arteries whose branches supply the vertebra or segment
Identify the segmental arteries.
Vertebral Ascending cervical Deep cervical Superior (highest) intercostal Posterior intercostal Subcostal LumbarI liolumbar Lateral sacral Medial (middle) sacral
What are the segmental arteries of the cervical spine?
Vertebral artery
Ascending cervical artery
Deep cervical artery
What are the segmental arteries of the thoracic spine?
Deep cervical artery
Superior (highest) intercostal artery
Posterior intercostal artery
Subcostal artery
What are the semental arteries of the lumbar spine?
Lumbar arteries
Iliolumbar artiery
Lateral sacral artery
Median (middle) sacral artery
What segmental levels are supplied by the vertebral artery?
C1-C6
What segmental levels are supplied by the ascending cervical artery?
C1-C6
What segmental levels are supplied by the deep cervical artery?
C7-T1
What segmenal levels are supplied by the superior (highest) intercostal artery?
T1-T2
What segmental levels are supplied by the posterior intercostal artery?
T3-T11
What segmental level(s) is/are supplied by the subcostal artery?
T12
What segmental levels are supplied by the lumbar arteries?
L1-L4
What segmental levels are supplied by the median (middle) sacral artery?
L5, S1-S5 and coccyx
What segmental levels are supplied by the iliolumbar artery?
L5, S1-S5 and coccyx
Which branches of the spinal artery supply the contents of the epidural space?
Osseous arteries
Anterior spinal canal artery
Posterior spinal canal artery
What arteries are observed in the epidural space near the posterior longitudinal ligament?
Anterior spinal canal artery
Plexus
What arteries are observed in the epidural space near the ligamentum flavum?
Posterior spinal canal artery
Plexus
Which branches of the spinal artery supply the contents of the subarachnoid space?
Anterior radicular artery
Posterior radicular artery
Anterior medullary feeder artery
Posterior medullary feeder artery
Which vessel will supply the ventral/ anterior nerve rootlet and nerve root?
Anterior radicular artery
Which vessel will supply the dorsal/ posterior nerve rootlet and nerve root ganglion?
Posterior radicular artery
What is the name given to the artery that lies in front of the spinal cord along its length?
Anterior spinal artery
The anterior spinal artery is a branch of which artery?
Vertebral artery
Is the anterior spinal artery a single, continuous artery along the spinal cord?
No
As the anterior spinal artery continues along the spinal cord, which arteries unite along its length to give the appearance of a single continuous vessel?
Anterior medullary feeder arteries
The posterior spinal artery is a branch of which artery?
Posterior inferior cerebellar artery
Which is the position of the posterior spinal artery relative to the spinal cord?
It lies in the posterolateral sulcus along the spinal cord
Is the posteior spinal artery a single, continuous artery along the spinal cord?
No
As the posterior spinal artery continues along the spinal cord, which arteries unite long its length to give the appearance of a single continuous vessel?
Posterior medullary feeder arteries
What changes to the arterial vasa corona occur between C3 and C6?
Right and left anterior spinal arteries fuse to become a single median anterior spinal artery, the right and left posterior spinal arteries are unchanged, and the 4 communicating arteries are reduced to 3 communicating arteries
What arterial vasa corona branches supply gray matter the most of the spinal cord?
Ventral/cenral/sulcal perforating arteries
What intermedullary branches supply about one third of the spinal cord?
Pial perforating arteries
What is the primary artery supplementing the arterial vasa corona?
Anterior medullary feeders
Posterior medullary feeders
What vessels drain the spinal cord?
Pial veins
Which vessels will drain the venous vasa corona?
Anterior medullary veins
Posterior medullary veins
Which vessels will drain the ventral/ anterior nerve roots?
Anterior radicular veins
Which vessels will drain the dorsal/ posterior nerve roots?
Posterior radicular veins
What vessel will drain the dorsal/ posterior nerve root ganglion?
Posterior radicular veins
What veins are observed in the epidural space near the ligamentum flavum?
Posterior internal vertebral venous plexus
What veins will lie in the subarachnoid space?
Pial veins Venous vasa corona Anterior longitudinal veins Posterior longitudinal veins Communicating veins Anterior medullary veins Posterior medullary veins Anterior radicular veins Posterior radicular veins
What veins are observed in the epidural space near the posterior longitudinal ligament?
Anterior internal vertebral venous plexus
Basivertebral vein
What venous vessels are identified in the intervertebral foramen?
Intervertebral veins
Identify the meninges of the spinal cord (spinal medulla or medulla spinalis) and the commonly accepted meaning of each.
Dura mater = tough mother
Arachnoid mater = spider mother
Pia mater = tender or delicate mother
Name and locate each space formed between the osseous vertebral foramen and the spinal cord (spinal medulla or medullaspinalis).
Epidural space = between the vertebral foramen and the dura mater
Subdural space = between the dura mater and the arachnoid mater
Subarachnoid space = between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater
What is the name given to the fluid within the epidural space?
Interstitial fluid
What are the contents of the epidural space?
Anterior & posterior spinal canal artery & plexus
Anterior &posterior internal vertebral venous plexus
Basivertebral vein
Recurrent meningeal nerve
Hofmann/ meningealvertebral ligaments
Ligamentum flavum
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Which of the contents of the epidural space will be found near the vertebral body?
Anterior spinal canal artery & plexus
Anterior internal vertebral venous plexus
Basivertebral vein
Recurrent meningeal nerve
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Hofmann/ meningealvertebral ligaments
Which of the contents of the epidural space are more likely located near or around the posterior longitudinal ligament?
Anterior spinal canal artery & plexus
Anterior internal vertebral venous plexus
Basivertebral vein
Recurrent meningeal nerve
Hofmann/ meningealvertebral ligaments
Which of the contents of the epidural space will be found near the lamina?
Posterior spinal canal artery & plexus
Posterior internal vertebral venous plexus
Ligamentum flavum
What contents of the subarachnoid space are changed below the level C6?
Arterial vasa corona consists of 1 anterior spinal artery, 2 posterior spinal arteries, 3 communicating arteries
What is the name given to the fluid with the subarachnoid space?
Cerebrospinal fluid
What is the name given to the lateral extension of pia mater along the spinal cord?
Dentate (denticulate) ligament
What is the unique feature of veins along the spinal cord?
They lack the bicuspid valve of typical veins
