Workbook - Vertebral column and spinal cord Flashcards

1
Q

How many vertebrae are there in the vertebral column?

A

33.

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2
Q

How many cervical vertebrae are there?

A

Seven.

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3
Q

How many thoracic vertebrae are there?

A

Twelve.

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4
Q

How many lumbar vertebrae are there?

A

Five.

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5
Q

How many sacral vertebrae are there?

A

Five.

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6
Q

How many coccygeal vertebrae are there?

A

Four.

-fused into one coccyx

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7
Q

What are the main subdivisions of a typical vertebra? (2)

A
  • Body (anteriorly)

- Vertebral arch (posteriorly)

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8
Q

What are the subdivisions of the vertebral arch? (5)

A
  • Pedicle
  • Lamina
  • Articular processes (sup & inf)
  • Spinous processes
  • Transverse processes
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9
Q

What is the function of pedicles?

A

Attach transverse process to the vertebral body.

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10
Q

What is the function of lamina?

A

Attach tranverse process to spinous process.

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11
Q

Where are articular processes situated?

A

Protrude posterior to vertebral notches.

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12
Q

What is the function of spinous and transverse processes?

A

Attachment of muscles and ligaments.

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13
Q

Which vertebrae are the smallest?

A

Cervical vertebrae.

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14
Q

What is the distinctive feature of cervical vertebrae?

A

Transverse foramen.

-smaller in C7

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15
Q

What structures pass through transverse foramen? (3)

A
  • Vertebral arteries and veins

- Sympathetic nerve plexus

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16
Q

What are the spinous processes of C3-6 like?

A

Short and bifid.

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17
Q

What is the spinous process of C7 like?

A

Vertebra prominens - very long.

-bony landmark

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18
Q

Which 2 cervical vertebra are atypical?

A
  • C1 (atlas)

- C2 (axis)

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19
Q

What are the main features of C1? (3)

A
  • Lacks vertebral body and spinous processes (ant and post tubercles instead)
  • Consists of ant and post tubercles (each with tubercle and lat mass)
  • Tubercle on med of lat mass (»transverse ligament to secure dens)
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20
Q

What are the main features of C2? (2)

A
  • 2 sup articular facets (large, flat surfaces which atlas rotates on)
  • Dens (odontoid process) from sup vertebral body
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21
Q

What holds the dens in position?

A

Transverse ligament.

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22
Q

What is the function of the dens?

A

Prevent horizontal dislocation of the atlas (C1).

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23
Q

What are the distinguishing features of the thoracic vertebrae? (4)

A
  • Long spinous processes (»post/inf)
  • Heart-shaped body
  • Circular vertebral foramen
  • Articulate with ribs
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24
Q

What are the types of facets on thoracic vertebrae for articulation with ribs? (2)

A
  • Costal demi-facets on body (sup/inf)

- Costal facet on transverse process

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25
Q

Which part of the rib do the costal demi-facets articulate with?

A

Head of ribs (own rib and rib below).

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26
Q

Which part of the rib do the costal facets articulate with?

A

Tubercle of rib.

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27
Q

What are the distinguishing features of the lumbar vertebrae?

A
  • Large body/size
  • Long, thin transverse processes (except L5)
  • Cylindrical body and triangular foramen
  • Short, sturdy spinous processes
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28
Q

How is the transverse process of L5 different?

A

Cone-shaped for iliolumbar ligaments&raquo_space; pelvic bones.

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29
Q

Which 2 spinal regions consist of fused vertebrae?

A
  • Sacral

- Coccygeal

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30
Q

What structures hold vertebrae together? (3)

A
  • Facet joints
  • Intervertebral discs
  • Ligaments
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31
Q

What is another name for facet joints?

A

Zygaphyseal joints.

32
Q

What do facet joints do?

A

Connect superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae.

33
Q

What is the function of intervertebral discs?

A
  • Provide flexibility in the spine

- Act as shock absorbers

34
Q

What are the components of intervertebral discs?

A
  • Annulus fibrosus

- Nucleus pulposus

35
Q

What is the annulus fibrosus?

A

Outer fibrocartilaginous ring of intervertebral discs.

  • attached to epiphysial rim of vertebral body
  • limits rotation between vertebrae
36
Q

What is the nucleus pulposus?

A

Gelatinous centre of intervertebral discs.

-acts as a shock absorber

37
Q

Which ligaments are associated with the vertebral column? (5)

A
  • Anterior longitudinal ligament
  • Posterior longitudinal ligament
  • Ligamentum flavum
  • Ligamentum nuchae
  • Interspinous ligaments
38
Q

What are the attachments of the anterior longitudinal ligament?

A

SUPERIOR - base of skull and C1

INFERIOR - ant surface of sacrum

39
Q

What is the function of the anterior longitudinal ligament?

A
  • Limits hyperextension of vertebral column

- Reinforces intervertebral discs

40
Q

What are the attachments of the posterior longitudinal ligament?

A

Lines anterior vertebral canal, along posterior of vertebral bodies.
-attached to vertebral bodies and discs

41
Q

What is the function of the posterior longitudinal ligament?

A
  • Limits flexion of vertebral column
  • Prevents posterior herniation of discs
  • Reinforces intervertebral discs
42
Q

What are the attachments of ligamentum flavum?

A

Pass between laminae (post below&raquo_space; ant above).

-form part of posterior canal

43
Q

What is the function of ligamentum flavum?

A
  • Resists separation of laminae in flexion

- Assists back extension to anatomical position

44
Q

What are the attachments of ligamentum nuchae?

A

BASE - skull (occipital protuberance&raquo_space; foramen magnum)
APEX - C7 spinous process
DEEP SIDE - C1 post tubercle and spinous processes&raquo_space; C7

45
Q

What is the function of ligamentum nuchae?

A
  • Supports head and returns it to anatomical position
  • Resists flexion
  • Muscular attachments
46
Q

What are the attachments of interspinous ligaments?

A

Pass between adjacent spinous processes from bas to apex.

-blend with supraspinous (post) and ligamentum flava (ant)

47
Q

What is the function of the interspinous ligaments?

A
  • Limit flexion of vertebral column

- Muscle attachments (dorsal muscles)

48
Q

What are the contents of the vertbral canal? (3)

A
  • Spinal cord
  • Spinal nerve roots
  • Meningeal coverings
49
Q

The vertebral column grows at a faster rate than the spinal cord. What effect does this have?

A

Spinal cord ends at L1-2.

-lumbar, sacral and coccygeal roots extend further (CAUDA EQUINA)

50
Q

Where does the spinal cord end in a 2-3 month old foetus?

A

Near the end of the vertebral canal.

51
Q

Where does the spinal cord end in a newborn?

A

~L3.

52
Q

Where does the spinal cord end in an adult?

A

L1-2.

53
Q

Where does filum terminal extend to in newborns and adults?

A

C1.

54
Q

Where does the dural sac terminate in adults?

A

~S1.

55
Q

What are the meninges surrounding the spinal cord?

A
  • Dura mater
  • Arachnoid mater
  • Pia mater
56
Q

What does the subdural space contain?

A

Potential space - dura mater is tightly adhered to arachnoid mater.

57
Q

What does the subarachnoid space contain?

A
  • CSF

- Blood vessels

58
Q

Where is the epidural (extradural space)?

A

Between the dura and vertebrae.

59
Q

What does epidural space contain?

A

Fat and a venous plexus.

60
Q

What are the main arteries that supply the spinal cord?

A

Aterior (x1) and posterior (x2) spinal arteries.

-run longitudinally

61
Q

Where do the anterior and posterior spinal arteries arise?

A

In the cranial cavity:

  • anterior - union of 2 vessels from vertebral arteries.
  • posterior - from terminal branch of vertebral arteries.
62
Q

Where does the anterior spinal artery run, and which area of the spinal cord does it supply?

A

Parallel to the anterior median fissure.

-supplies anterior spinal cord

63
Q

Where do the posterior spinal arteries run, and which area of the spinal cord do they supply?

A

2 branches bracket post/lat sulcus.

-supply posterior spinal cord

64
Q

Which arteries reinforce the spinal arteries?

A

Radicular branches of intercostal and lumber arteries.

65
Q

How do the radicular branches enter the vertebral canal?

A

Through intervertebral foramina.

66
Q

What do the radicular branches supply?

A
  • Ventral and dorsal nerve roots

- Peripheral post & ant horns

67
Q

Describe the main venous drainage of the spinal cord.

A
  • Anterior spinal vein - parallels ant median fissure
  • Posterior spinal vein - passes along post median sulcus

> > drain into medullary and radicular veins
join internal plexus in epidural space
drains into SVC

68
Q

What venous connections are there at each vertebral level?

A

Connections with intercostal veins and external vertebral venous plexus.

69
Q

Do spinal veins have valves?

A

No.

70
Q

Where do spinal nerves emerge from the vertebral canal?

A

Intervertebral foramen.

-as ant/post primary rami

71
Q

In which part of the vertebral column are spinal nerves longer?

A

In the lower part of the canal.

-spinal cord doesn’t extend the whole canal

72
Q

Where do spinal nerves C1-7 leave the vertebral column?

A

Superior to their corresponding vertebrae.

73
Q

Where do the spinal nerve from C8 downwards leave the spinal column?

A

C8 leaves above T1, then the rest leave inferior to their corresponding vertebrae.

74
Q

How many cervical vertebrae and spinal nerves are there?

A

7 vertebrae, but 8 pairs of spinal nerves.

75
Q

What is the cauda equina?

A

Terminal cluster of lumbar, sacral and coccygeal nerves.

-formed from dorsal and ventral spinal nerve roots caudal to cord termination at L1