Vertebral column, spinal cord, suboccipital triangle Flashcards
Secondary curvatures of the spine (concaved dorsally)
Cervical curvature
Lumbar curvature
Primary curvatures of the spine (concaved ventrally)
Thoracic curvature
Sacral curvature
The vertebral arch consists of:
Two pedicles and two laminae (both form the vertebral foramen)
Spinal canal is formed by:
The alignment of the vertebral foramen from all of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral vertebrae
Where is the pedicle of the vertebrae located?
The region between the vertebral body and the transverse process
Where is the lamina of the vertebrae located?
Between the transverse process and the spinous process.
What forms the intervertebral foramen?
Superior and inferior vertebral notch + bodies and intervertebral disk from adjacent vertebrae + superior and inferior articular processes
What is the function of the intervertebral foramen?
Accommodates the exit of spinal nerves from the spinal cord.
Shape of the cervical vertebrae:
Small, broad vertebral body with a triangular vertebral foramen, transverse foramen
The spinous process increases in size and prominence from cv1-7
C7 is also called:
Vertebra prominens
What structure is unique to the cervical vertebrae?
Transverse cervical foramen
Transverse cervical foramen are located in:
Cervical transverse processes
What transmits the vertebral artery?
C1-C6 transverse cervical foramen
Which cervical vertebrae does not transmit the vertebral artery?
C7 (vertebral prominens)
This passes through the C7 transverse cervical foramen:
Auxiliary vertebral vein
The _____ surface of the body C3-C7 is concaved
Superior
The ______ surface of the body C3-C7 is convexed.
Inferior
What is responsible for the movements of the neck: rotation about its axis, anterior flexion, posterior extension
Articular facets (C2-C7: superior and inferior) are orientated almost horizontally and combine with relatively thick intervertebral disks (C2-C7) –> neck rotation
____ lacks a vertebral body and true spinous process
Atlas (C1)
The lack of spinous process of the atlas (C1) is replaced by:
Posterior tubercle
The vertebral canal of the atlas is formed by two arches:
Anterior and posterior arch (each with a tubercle at the midline)
The superior articular surface (of the atlas) forms a synovial joint with the ______ and allows for the _____ and _____ of the head (“yes” motion).
Occipital condyle of the cranium, anterior flexion, posterior extension
Pivot point of lateral rotation of the head:
Dens of the axis (C2)
Dens supports the:
Alignment of the atlas
The vertebral foramen is smaller in diameter for the ______ vertebrae:
Thoracic
Thoracic vertebrae body are what shape?
Heart-shaped
All 12 thoracic vertebrae articulate with a ____ and have ____
Rib; costal facets (demifacets)
Costal facets are located on:
The posterior-lateral wall of each vertebral body
Costal facets articulate with:
the head of the rib to form a synovial joint
What is the function of transverse costal facets?
Articulate with the tubercle of ribs 1-10 and also form a true synovial joint
What facets are unique to thoracic vertebrae?
Costal and transverse costal facets
Thoracic vertebrae articular processes are orientated _____ and allow for what movments?
Vertically, extension of the thorax and anterior flexion
Which vertebrae have interlocking articular facets?
Lumbar vertebrae
Interlocking articular facets of the _____ allow for:
(In the lumbar vertebrae); posterior extension and anterior flexion of the lumbar region
Interlocking articular facets prevent:
Lateral rotation of the lumbar region
Lumbar vertebrae lack _______.
Costal facets
The sacrum provides strength to the ____ by transmitting the weight of the body to the _________ through the _______ joint.
Pelvis; pelvic girdle; sacroiliac joint
The sacral canal is made up by the fusion of:
Vertebral canal from S1-S3 and terminates at S4, then opens posteriorly - sacral hiatus
Sacral hiatus is formed by:
The incomplete closure of the lamina of S4 and S5 - easily palpate the sacral horns cornua
What is the promontory?
On the ventral surface of the body of S1 with a sharp ventral displacement at the upper margin
Two wing-like structures on the anterior surface of the sacrum, lateral to the vertebral body
Ala
Anterior and posterior sacral foramina
4 pairs that allow the passage of sacral spinal nerves S1-S4 (ventral and dorsal rami, respectively)
Articular surface of the sacrum
Lateral to the ala, on the posterior side of the sacrum are a pair of roughened spaces, articulate with the anterior surface of the ilium to form the sacroiliac joint
Sacroiliac joint
Articular surface articulates with the anterior surface of the ilium to form this synovial joint
4 vertebral elements that are fused and rudimentary - embryological remnant of a tail
Coccyx
What maintains the integrity of the vertebral column?
Series of ligaments, intervertebral disks, and the superior/inferior articulating processes and corresponding synovial joints
Anulus fibrosus encapsulating the nucleus pulposus
Intervertebral disks
Intervertebral disks
23, inferior to the bodies of C2-L5 (no disks between cranium/C1 and C1/C2)
Maintain alignment and provide cushion
What is the function of the anterior longitudinal ligament? (Of the vertebral column)
Maintain support and alignment of the vertebral column.
Where does the anterior longitudinal ligament attach?
A bony tubercle located at the midline on the anterior rim of foramen magnum (occipital bone), anterior tubercle of C1, and on the anterior midline surface of the vertebral bodies of C2-S1
basically: on the anterior edge of the vertebral body (imagine spine… Runs down the anterior border where all of the vertebral bodies run)
In the _____, the intervertebral disks are ossified.
Sacrum
What is the origin of the posterior longitudinal ligament?
C2 (as it merges with the tectorial membrane, which connects C2 to the clivus of the occipital bone)
***looks like it is connected to the skull, but it is NOT. It is connected to the tectorial membrane
Where does the posterior longitudinal ligament attach?
Vertebral bodies of C2-S1 (and the intervertebral disks)
Posterior side of the vertebral bodies… Runs inside the vertebral foramen
Supraspinous ligament extends from ____ to ____ ?
Spinous processes of C7-S3
Superior to ____, the supraspinous ligament is continuous with _________.
C7; ligamentum nuchae
What is the free border of the ligamentum nuchae?
Free border: continuous with the supraspinous ligament and extends from the external occipital protuberance –> spinous process of C7
Superior border of ligamentum nuchae?
Superior border: attaches to the occipital bone along the external occipital crest to the base of foramen magnum
Attach border of the ligamentum nuchae?
Attach border - attaches to the base of the foramen magnum, to the posterior tubercle of C1, and spinous processes of C2-C7
Location of Interspinous ligament:
Between the adjacent spinous processes from C2-S1
Ligamentum flavum
Paired set of elastic membranes that attach adjoining lamina between C1-S1
Ligamentum flavium is absent between ____ and ____.
Cranium and C1