Vertebral Column

Question 1

how many vertebrae are in each section?

Answer 1

cervical- 7
thoracic-12
lumbar- 5
sacral- 5
coccygeal- 4

Question 2

basic structure of vertebrae

Answer 2

• body
• vertebral arch- pedicles- laminae
• Intervertebral foramen- superior notch- inferior notch

Question 3

Basic structure of vertebrae 2?

Answer 3

• vertebral foramen
• spinous process
• transverse processes
• superior articular processes
• inferior articular processes
• articular facets

Question 4

Typical Cervical vertebrae-

Answer 4

• transverse foramen
• transverse process
• bifid spinous process
• anterior and posterior tubercles

Question 5

Atypical cervical vertebrae: Atlas [C1]

Answer 5

• kidney shaped concave articular facets
• consists of anterior and posterior arches with tubercles
• no spinous process or vertebral body

Question 6

Atypical cervical vertebrae: Axis [C2]

Answer 6

• Dens or odontoid process

- large bifid spinous process

Question 7

Atypical cervical vertebrae: 7th cervical [C7]

Answer 7

• long slender spinous process
• resembles thoracic vertebrae
• no anterior tubercle on its transverse process

Question 8

Typical thoracic vertebrae-

Answer 8

• long and slender spinous process
• body is heart shaped
• body has an articular facet for the head of a rib
• transverse process has an articulating facet for the tubercle of a rib

Question 9

Typical lumbar vertebrae-

Answer 9

• large bean shaped body
• square shaped spinous process
• absence of costal facets

Question 10

Sacrum: typical features

Answer 10

• triangular shape
• spinous process represented by a median crest
• sacral foramina
• coccyx (vestigial of a tail)

Question 11

Development of spinal curves:

Answer 11

first is primary curvature

• then lumbosacral
• then cervical and lumbosacral

Question 12

Malformations of the spine:

Answer 12

1. scoliosis: left to right shift of the thoracolumbar region
2. kyphosis: thoracle is more bent
3. lordosis: lumbar region is more bent in

Question 13

Vertebral joints:

Answer 13

intervertebral disc: symphysis type joint between bodies

Question 14

Intervertebral disc contains…

Answer 14

1. annulus fibrosis on the outside

2. nucleus pulposus on the inside

Question 15

Articular facets

Answer 15

synovial joints

made of : - capsular ligament, articular cartilage, joint cavity, synovial membrane, some have a disc

Question 16

between spinous processes

Answer 16

• syndesmosis
• partially movable
• united by a fibrous interosseous membrane (ligament)