Week 5- Musculoskeletal System

Question 1

How many vertebrae is the vertebral column made of and what are the subsections and their weightings?

Answer 1

33 vertebrae
5 regions: cervical 7, thoracic 12, lumbar 5, sacral 5, coccygeal 4

Question 2

Describe the changes in size of the vertebrae down the vertebral column and why this occurs

Answer 2

The vertebrae become larger as the column descends from the cervical to the sacral region
Sacrum decrease in size towards the apex of the coccyx
Occurs due to the fact that successive vertebrae bear increasing amounts of the body’s weight

Question 3

Where does the sacrum transfer weight to?

Answer 3

Pelvic girdle at the sacro-iliac joints

Question 4

What gives the vertebral column its flexibility?

Answer 4

The synovial zygapophysial (facet) joints between the 25 cervical, thoracic, lumbar and first sacral vertebrae

Question 5

What is a typical vertebrae composed of?

Answer 5

Vertebral body
Vertebral arch
Seven processes

Question 6

What is the vertebral body composed of?

Answer 6

Spongy bone(tall vertical trabeculae intersecting with short, horizontal trabeculae) enclosed by a thin external layer of compact bone
Spaces between trabeculae are occupied by red bone marrow

Question 7

How is bone marrow drained from the vertebral column?

Answer 7

One or more large froamina in posterior surface of the vertebral body accommodates basivertebral veins that drain the marrow

Question 8

What are the superior and inferior surfaces of the vertebral body covered with?

Answer 8

Hyaline cartilage

Question 9

What is the vertebral arch composed of?

Answer 9

Two pedicles and two laminae
Pedicles are short stout cylindrical processes that project posteriorly from vertebral body and meet tow broad, flat plates of bone called laminae

Question 10

What does the vertebral canal contain?

Answer 10

Spinal cord and roots of spinal nerves, along with meninges, fats and vessels that surround and serve them