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ANATOMY > WEEK 2 (Vertebral column) > Flashcards

WEEK 2 (Vertebral column) Flashcards

1
Q

How many segments does the vertebral column contain?

A

33 segments

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2
Q

What are the four spinal curvatures?

A

Thoracic (Primary)
Sacral (Primary)
Cervical (Secondary)
Lumbar (Secondary)

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3
Q

What are the main characteristics of the vertebral column?

A
  • Extends from the cranium to the apex of the coccyx
  • Protects the spinal cord and spinal nerves
  • Supports the weight of the body superior to the level of the pelvis
  • Plays an important role in posture and locomotion
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4
Q

Before birth the spine consists of how many separate bones?

A

33

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5
Q

9 out of 33 vertebrae fuse to form the two composite bones called the __________ and the ___________ that construct the inferior portion of the vertebral column

A

Sacrum & Coccyx

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6
Q

What is the segmentation of the 33 segments in the vertebral column?

A

Cervical segment - 7 vertebrae
Thoracic segment - 12 vertebrae
Lumbar segment - 5 vertebrae
Sacral segment - 5 vertebrae
Coccygeal segment - 4 vertebrae

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7
Q

What regions are referred to as ‘Primary curvatures’ and why are they named as that?

A

Spinal curvatures in the thoracic and sacral regions are referred to as primary curvatures because they are present when we are born

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8
Q

What regions are referred to as ‘Secondary curvatures’ and why are they named as that?

A

The curvatures in the cervical and lumbar regions are referred to as secondary curvatures because they develop after birth

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9
Q

Define ‘Kyphosis’

A

Abnormal increase in the thoracic curvature

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10
Q

Define ‘Lordosis’

A

Anterior rotation of the pelvis producing an abnormal increase in the lumbar curvature

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11
Q

What is scoliosis?

A

Abnormal lateral curvature that is accompanied by rotation of the vertebrae

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12
Q

What motions develop the cervical and lumbar curvature after birth?

A

Lifting of the head develops the cervical curvature and walking upright develops the lumbar curvature

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13
Q

The ______________ is firmly anchored to the posterior surface of the vertebral body by two pedicles which form the lateral walls of the vertebral arch

A

Vertebral arch

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14
Q

The roof of the vertebral arch is formed by __________ and ________ __________ which fuse at the midline

A

Right & Left Laminae

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15
Q

What does the vertebral canal contain?

A
  • The Spinal Cord
  • Protective membranes
  • Blood vessels
  • Connective tissue
  • Fat
  • Proximal parts of spinal nerves
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16
Q

What is the “Body” or “Centrum”?

A

A disclike, weight-bearing part of the vertebra facing anteriorly in the vertebral column

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17
Q

What is the “Vertebral arch”?

A

An arch formed from the joining of all posterior extensions, the laminae and pedicles, from the vertebral body

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18
Q

What is the “Vertebral foramen”?

A

A canal through which the spinal cord passes

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19
Q

______________ are two lateral projections from the vertebral arch

A

Transverse processes

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20
Q

___________ is a single projection arising from the posterior aspect of the vertebral arch

A

Spinous process

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21
Q

What are “superior articular process and inferior articular process”?

A

Paired projections lateral to vertebral foramen, allowing a vertebra to form joints with adjacent vertebrae

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22
Q

The vertebral arches of the vertebrae canal are aligned to form what?

A

The lateral and posterior walls of the vertebral canal which extends from the first cervical vertebra (C1) to the last sacral vertebra (S5)

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23
Q

The “typical cervical vertebrae” go through from ____ through to ______

A

C3 to C7

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24
Q

What are the properties of the “typical cervical vertebrae”?

A
  • The smallest, lightest vertebrae
  • Spinous processes are short and divided into two branches
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25
What is the smallest and lightest vertebrae?
Cervical vertebrae
26
The ________________ of the cervical vertebrae contain foramina (openings) through which the vertebral arteries pass on their way to the brain above
Transverse processes
27
What is the transverse foramen?
An opening that is occupied by the vertebral artery and vein
28
Which vertebra are referenced to as "Atlas and Axis"?
C1 = Atlas C2 = Axis These vertebrae have the greatest range of motion
29
What is distinguishing about C1?
It lacks a vertebral body and articulates with the skull. It is also ring-shaped and allows the head to nod.
30
Why is there no intervertebral disc between C1 and C2?
The vertebral body of C1 fuses onto the body of C2 during development to become the dens (Odontoid process) of C2
31
Describe the anatomy of "Atlas"
- Ring shaped and composed of two lateral masses - Each lateral mass articulates above with an occipital condyle of the skull and below with the superior articular process of the axis (C2) - Transverse processes are large, protrude further laterally and act as levers for muscle action
32
Describe the anatomy of "Axis"
- Has a large tooth-like dens which extends superiorly from the vertebral body - Anterior surface of the dens has an oval facet for articulation with the anterior arch of the atlas
33
The 12 thoracic vertebrae (T1 to T12) are all _________
Typical
34
Describe the anatomy of "Thoracic vertebrae"
- Larger than cervical vertebrae - The only vertebrae to articulate with the ribs - The transverse processes articulate with the tubercles of the ribs - Spinous process is long and hooks sharply downward
35
How many lumbar vertebrae are there?
5 lumbar vertebrae (L1 to L5)
36
What is distinguishable about lumbar vertebrae?
- They have massive, blocklike bodies to bear the weight of the upper body - Larger and heavier than those of other regions for support
37
The sacrum forms the posterior wall of the ________
Pelvis
38
The sacrum is formed by the fusion of how many vertebrae?
5
39
Each winglike Ala of the Sacrum articulates laterally with the hip bone, forming a _________ joint
Sacroiliac joint
40
The Coccyx is formed from the fusion of __________ tiny, irregularly shaped vertebrae
4 or 5
41
The ________________ is formed between adjacent vertebral arches and is closely related to intervertebral joints
Intervertebral Foramina
42
What is the anatomy of the Intervertebral Foramina?
- The superior and inferior margins are formed by notches in adjacent pedicles - The posterior margin is formed by the articular processes of the vertebral arches and the associated joint - The anterior border is formed by the intervertebral disc between the vertebral bodies of adjacent vertebrae
43
What are the joints of the vertebral column?
Joints of vertebral bodies Joints of vertebral arches Craniovertebral joints Sacroiliac joints
44
What are the two major types of joints between vertebrae?
- Symphyses between vertebral bodies - Synovial joints between articular processes
45
Intervertebral discs are also known as ____________
Syphyses
46
Describe the anatomy of "Symphyses"
- Layer of hyaline cartilage on each vertebral body - Intervertebral disc which lies between layers
47
What does the intervertebral disc consist of?
- Annulus fibrosis (surrounds a central) - Nucleus pulposus (gelatinous and absorbs compression forces between vertebrae)
48
What are 'Zygapophysical joints'?
The synovial joints between superior and inferior articular processes on adjacent vertebrae
49
What is distinguishable about "Uncovertebral joints"?
- Between C3 and C7 - Synovial joints found lateral and anterior to the intervertebral foramina
50
Joints between vertebrae are reinforced and supported by numerous ligaments, which pass between vertebral bodies and interconnect components of the ____________
Vertebral arches
51
The ___________________ is attached superiorly to the base of the skull and inferiorly to the anterior surface of the sacrum
Anterior longitudinal ligament
52
The _________________ is on the posterior surfaces of the vertebral bodies and lines the posterior surface of the vertebral canal
Posterior longitudinal ligament
53
What is attached along the length of the longitudinal ligaments?
Vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs
54
On each side of the Ligamenta Flava, from which side of laminae of adjacent vertebrae do they pass?
From C1 to S1
55
What is the role of Ligamenta Flava?
Resists separation of the laminae in flexion and assists in extension back to the anatomical position
56
The _________________ connects and passes along the tips of the vertebral spinous processes from vertebra C7 to the S1
Supraspinous ligament
57
What is the role of the Supraspinous ligament?
It helps to limit hyperflexion of the vertebral column
58
What is the name of the ligament that is attached from the skull to C7?
Ligamentum Nuchae
59
What is the anatomy of the Ligamentum Nuchae?
- Firmly attached to the external occipital protuberance and the spinous process of C7 - A triangular, sheet-like structure in the median sagittal plane
60
What is the role of the Ligamentum Nuchae?
Supports the head by resisting flexion and facilitates returning the head to the anatomical position
61
What is the anatomy of Interspinous ligaments?
- Pass between adjacent vertebral spinous processes - Attach from the base to the apex of each spinous process and blend with the supraspinous ligament posteriorly and the ligaments lava anteriorly on each side
62
What is the role of interspinous ligaments?
They limit hyperflexion
63
What is the function of the vertebral body?
It bears weight
64
What is the function of vertebral processes?
Allow for muscle attachment
64
What is the function of vertebral processes?
Allow for muscle attachment
65
What is the function of intervertebral discs?
- provides cushioning - prevents bones from rubbing
66
What are the facets of the vertebra?
Each vertebra has 2 sets of facets Superior facets connects to the vertebra above and the Inferior facets connects to the vertebra below
67
What is the function of ligaments?
Allow flexion and extension of the spine
68
Where can the intertransverse ligament, interspinous ligament, supraspinous ligament and the nuchal ligament be found?
Intertransverse ligament = between transverse process Interspinous ligament = between spinous process Supraspinous ligament = from 7th vertebra to the coccyx Nuchal ligament = from 7th vertebra to the external occipital protuberance
69
The spinal cord floats in _______________ in the Dural tube
Cerebrospinal fluid
70
Which spinal nerves fuse to form the spinal nerve?
Dorsal root and ventral root

ANATOMY (13 decks)

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