Vetebral Column Flashcards
What is osteology
Study of bones
What is arthrology
Branch of anatomy dealing with the joints and ligaments of the body
Myology
Study of muscles
How many bones are in the adult human body
206
How many bones in the axial skeleton
80
How many bones in the appendicular skeleton
126
What does the axial skeleton consist of
- Skull
-Hyoid
-Vertebral column (spine, sacrum, coccyx)
-Sternum
-Ribs
What does the appendicular skeleton consist of
Bones of upper extremities
The pectoral girdle
The pelvic girdle
Bones of the lower extremities
Function of the vertebral column
- strong flexible rod providing movement of the trunk
- Encloses and protects the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots
- Supports the head and acts as a pivot
- Serves as a point of attachment for ribs and act as an axis of the body
- maintaining the posture of body and locomotion
How many vertebrae does the vertebral column consist of
33
What are the five parts of the vertebral column
Cervical
Thoracic
Lumber
Sacrum
Coccyx
How many cervical vertebrae
7
How many lumber vertebrae
5
How many thoracic vertebrae
12
How many sacrum vertebrae
5 fused
How many vertebrae form the coccyx
4 fused
What are the two kind of normal curvatures of the vertebral column
- Primary curvatures
- Secondary curvatures
What are the characteristics of primary curvatures ? Which part of the vertebra are primary curvatures
- Present at birth
- Immobile (attached to skeletal components)

Thoracic and sacral
What are the characteristics of secondary curvatures ? Which part of the vertebra are secondary curvatures
- develop AFTER birth
- flexible due to lack of skeletal connections
Cervical and Lumbar
What tells you that the cervical curvature is developed ?
Child holds head erect
What tells you that the lumbar curvature is developed
Child stands erect/walk
Which parts of the spine allow for greater movement then the other regions of the vertebral column
Cervical and lumbar
In early embryo, the vertebral column is what shape
C-shaped
True or false
Prenatal and postnatal growth accounts for 4 distinct curvilinear regions in the adult
True
Presence of an abnormal lateral curvature is called
Scoliosis
Exaggeration of curvatures in thoracic region is called
Kyphosis
Exaggeration of curvatures in lumbar region is called
Lordosis
What are the general structures of the vertebrae
Spinous process (1)
Transverse process (2)
Articular processes / zygapophyses (4)
Purpose of Intervertebral foramen
Spinal nerves come out from it
The vertebral foramina of the successive vertebrae form the
Vertebral canal
What passes through vertebral canal
Spinal cord
Encircled by the body anteriorly, vertebral arch posteriorly and pedicles laterally is the
Vertebral foramen
What are the first two cervical Vertebrae called
Atlas and axis
How many typical cervical vertebrae are there
4
How many atypical cervical vertebrae are there and what are they
3
- atlas
- axis
- c7
What kind of spine does a typical cervical vertebra have
Bifid spine
What is special about cervical vertebrae compared to other vertebrae
They have a foramina in their transverse processes called transverse foramina
What does a typical cervical vertebrae have
Body
Pedicle
Lamina
Spinous process
What is the 7th cervical vertebrae called and why
Vertebra prominens
Because of its long (not bifid) spinous process
True or false
C7 has a bifid spine like all the other cervical vertebrae
False
Transverse foramen allows for passage of which blood vessel
Vertebral arteries
What is different about C7’s transverse foramen ?
Vertebral artery does not pass through it
There is usually intervertebral disc between adjacent vertebra ; however, where on the vertebral column do we not have intervertebral discs ?
-Between atlas and axis
-Between Fused sacrum and Fused coccyx
Characteristics of atlas
- ring-shaped
- no body
- no spine
- has anterior and posterior arches
- transverse foramen
- supports the skull
What makes axis atypical ?
Because it has an extra protruding process known as the dens (odontoid process)
The most characteristic feature of axis is
Dens
What is the purpose of dens of axis
Dens articulates with the anterior arch of the atlas, providing a PIVOT about which the atlas and head can rotate
How many typical and atypical vertebrae are in the thoracic vertebrae
8 typical
4 atypical
Which thoracic vertebrae are non-typical
T1
T10
T11
T12
What shape is the body of a thoracic vertebrae
Heart shaped
Describe the vertebral foramen of a typical thoracic vertebrae
Round vertebral foramen
Rips connect to the thoracic vertebrae at two main points
Inferior and superior costal facets (Demi facets)
Which site does a rib form a joint with the transverse process
Transverse costal facet
Largest vertebrae of the vertebral column belong to
Lumber vertebrae
What shape is the vertebral foramen of lumber vertebrae
Triangular