Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Anatomy > Week 1: Vertebral Column > Flashcards

Week 1: Vertebral Column Flashcards

1
Q

Foramen

A
  • an opening
  • bony hollow archway created by pedicels of adjacent vertebrae, creating passageway through which all spinal nerve roots run
  • in anatomy, foramen = any opening
  • foramen allow muscles, nerves, arteries, veins, etc to connect one part of body with another
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Articular

A

Of or relating to a joint

Articulate = join/ connect together so as to allow movement between the parts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Facet

A
  • smooth region of a bone where it articulates with corresponding surface on another bone
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Costal

A
  • related to a rib

- costa = rib

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Bifid

A
  • forked in two; having two branches
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Atlas

A
  • C1
  • in Greek mythology, Atlas supported the heavens on his shoulders, as C1 supports the skull
  • does not have vertebral body, consists of ring of bone
  • can rotate around dens (as when shake head ‘no’)
  • has inner anterior facet for dens
  • bilateral superior articular facets for occipital condyles of skull (at these bilateral articulations nod head ‘yes’)
  • has transverse foramen (like other cervical vertebrae)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Dens

A

= tooth

  • characterizes C2, the axis (on anterior side of vertebrae)
  • formed during development when the body of C1 becomes fused to that of C2
  • dens fits into atlas’ anterior arch and is held in place by atlas’ transverse ligament
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Tubercle

A
  • an elevation from the surface of a bone, usually giving attachment to a muscle/ ligament
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Annulus fibrosus

A

= fibrous ring

  • outer, tough, fibrocartilaginous ring of intervertebral disc (joins each vertebral body to next)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Nucleus pulposus

A

= pulpy or gelatinous core of intervertebral disc

  • withstands compression and is very deformable, thereby permitting flexion, extension, rotation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Flexion, extension, rotation

A
  • flexion decreases angle between articulating elements
  • extension increases angle
  • rotation occurs around long axis of body part
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Hernia

A
  • protrusion of a structure/ substance through the tissues that normally contain it
  • ie. intervertebral disc can herniate such that the nucleus pulposus pushes through the annulus fibrosis into the intervertebral foramen, thus compressing a spinal nerve/ its root
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Synovial joint

A
  • articulating elements separated by fluid-filled space and enclosed in fibrous joint capsule
  • ie. zygopophyseal joint between superior/ inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Segmental ligaments

A
  • extend from one vertebra to next
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Continuous ligaments

A
  • run length of vertebral column
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Interspinous ligaments

A
  • segmental ligament

- join spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Ligamenta flava

A
  • segmental ligament
  • join laminae of adjacent vertebrae
  • have particularly high content of elastic fibres, thus provide more “give” than most ligaments
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Supraspinous ligament

A
  • longitudinal ligament

- connects spinous processes (ie. runs down outside of all)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Anterior/ posterior longitudinal ligament

A
  • posterior: a narrow band that connects the posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs
  • anterior: a broad band that connects the anterior aspect
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

In situ

A

= in place

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Conus medullaris

A
  • tip of the spinal cord, typically adjacent to L2 vertebral body
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

LO: Describe the meninges and their role in covering/ anchoring the SC

A
  • three layers of membranous coverings (outer = dura; arachnoid with subarachnoid space filled with CSF, inner = pia mater)
  • dura = hard
  • arachnoid = resembles spider web
  • pia = tender
  • dura and arachnoid form DURAL SAC, which extends from the foramen magnum of the occipital bone to the end at the level of the S2 vertebral body
  • pia mater has denticulate (toothlike) ligaments = extensions that anchor SC bilaterally to inner surface of dural sac, thus stabilizing SC
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Lumbar cistern

A
  • within dural sac, from conus medullaris (L2) to end of dural sac (S2)
  • contains CSF, cauda equina, and filum terminale interna
  • site of LP (between L3 and L4) where CSF withdrawn via needle
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Filum terminale

A
  • the filum terminale interna is a filament of pia that extends from the conus medullaris to the end of the dural sac. There it takes on layers of arachnoid and dura –> forms filum terminale externa, which extends point of anchorage to coccyx
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Epidural space

A
  • epi = upon/ superficial to
  • lies between the dura and bony vertebral canal
  • site of injection of epidural anesthetic
  • normally filled with fat and internal vertebral venous plexus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

LO: Describe the functional subdivisions of the NS - Somatic NS

A

Soma = body

  • motor component controls skeletal voluntary muscle in head, neck, body wall, limbs
  • sensory component monitors receptors in head, neck, body wall, limbs
  • neurons = multipolar (cell bodies located in SC), axons synapse direct only onto skeletal muscle
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

LO: Describe the functional subdivisions of the NS - Autonomic

A

Automatos = self-moving

  • motor component controls smooth involuntary muscle, cardiac muscle, glands
  • sensory component monitors visceral organs
  • divides to sympathetic/ para
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Viscera

A

= internal organs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Sympathetic

A
  • division of ANS

- arises from T1-L2 spinal segments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Parasympathetic

A
  • division of ANS

- arises from brain stem and S2-S4 spinal segments

31
Q

LO: Describe the features of a multipolar neuron

A
  • most common - ie. motor neurons, interneurons

- numerous dendrites, single axon

32
Q

LO: Describe the features of a (pseudo)unipolar neuron

A
  • sensory neurons
  • neuron whose cell body extends off the side of its fibre (axon)
  • single process from cell body that divides into two branches (to dendrites/ axon)
  • peripheral process begins as dendrites in somatic/ visceral target
  • central process enters CNS, ends at synaptic terminals
  • cell bodies found in collections = ganglia
33
Q

Ventral (anterior) roots

A
  • contain somatic/ visceral motor fibres
34
Q

Dorsal (posterior) roots

A
  • contain all sensory fibres
35
Q

Dorsal/ ventral rami

LO: Describe the regional distribution of dorsal/ ventral rami

A

Ramus = arm

  • dorsal/ ventral rami formed from bifurcation of spinal nerves, thus contain both motor/ sensory fibres
  • dorsal/ ventral differ in distribution
  • dorsal rami: smaller, proceed posteriorly to innervate tissues overlying/ adjacent to vertebral column (para-axial/ vertebral region)
  • ventral: larger/ longer, proceed anteriorly to innervate tissues in remainder of body wall/ limbs
36
Q

LO: Describe a dermatome

A

Derm = skin; tome = cut

  • area of skin supplied by cutaneous sensory fibres contained within single spinal nerve, thus arising from single spinal level
  • a dermatome corresponds to every spinal nerve/ segment except C1
37
Q

LO: Describe a myotome

A

Myo = muscle

  • group of muscle cells controlled by somatic motor fibres contained within single spinal nerve, thus arising from single spinal level. These muscle cells may be distributed into several different muscles, thus can control 1+ movements
38
Q

Multipolar

A
  • a neuron whose fibre (axon) arises from cell body - ie. motor neurons
39
Q

Autonomic innervation of the body wall/ limbs

A
  • visceral motor neurons innervating body wall/ limbs = EXCLUSIVELY SYMPATHETIC
  • 3 targets of ANS in body wall/ limbs: vascular smooth muscle and arrector pili muscle/ glands in skin
  • NO PARASYMPATHETIC innervation of body wall/ limbs!
40
Q

White ramus communicans

A
  • white because axon coated with myelin (lipid material)
  • sympathetic neurons from SC do NOT synapse directly onto target tissue. Travel through ventral root –> spinal nerve –> white ramus communicans –> preganglionic sympathetic fibre, which synapses onto post ganglionic cell body
41
Q

Grey ramus communicans

A
  • grey because axon NOT coated in myelin
  • postganglionic cell body –> postganglionic sympathetic fibre, which re-enters spinal nerve via grey ramus communicans –> sympathetic targets in para-axial region via dorsal ramus and all other body regions via ventral ramus
42
Q

Sympathetic ganglia

A
  • bilaterally paired - each serves its own side of the body
  • joined, forming bilaterally-paired chains/ trunks that extend above T1 into neck/ below L2 to coccyx (since sympathetic outflow arises ONLY from T1-L2!)
  • sympathetic can travel up/ down chain to reach all dermatomes!
43
Q

Somatic nerve targets for body wall/ limbs (3)

A
  • sensory fibres monitor receptors in skin, skeletal muscle, joints
  • somatic motor fibres control voluntary muscle
  • sympathetic postganglionic fibres control smooth muscle/ glands in body wall/ limbs
44
Q

Somatic plexi

A

Plexus = braid (like hair in a braid, fibres from different origins overlap/ intermingle with each other in a plexus)

  • in the case of limbs, ventral rami first form SOMATIC PLEXI, which give rise to peripheral nerves of limbs
45
Q

Brachial plexus

A

Brachial = having to do with arm

  • roots –> trunks –> divisions –> cords –> terminal branches
  • roots = ventral rami from the spinal nerves emerging from the intervertebral foramina
  • trunks: C5/ C6 ventral rami join to form superior trunk; C7 = middle; C8/ T1 = inferior
  • 3 trunks bifurcate –> divisions which create lateral (from superior), medial (inferior), and posterior (middle) cords (named relative to axillary artery)
  • terminal branches = major peripheral nerves
46
Q

Describe the 3 planes section in produces

A
  1. Frontal/ coronal plane - separates body into anterior/ posterior
  2. Sagittal - separates into left/ right
  3. Transverse/ cross-sectional - separates into superior/ inferior
47
Q

LO: describe the components of the vertebral column

A
  • 33 vertebrae divided into 5 regions

- 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, 4 (3-5) coccygeal

48
Q

LO: identify features common to all vertebrae

A
  • basic structure of all vertebrae = similar
  • body, vertebral arch (composed of pedicles/ laminae), spinous process, transverse process, superior/ inferior articular process each with articular facet, vertebral canal (houses SC, its soft coverings, fat, BVs)
  • vertebral body = weight bearing element of vertebra
49
Q

LO: identify distinguishing features of the cervical vertebrae

A
  1. Cervical
    - smallest vertebral body
    - no costal facets
    - larger vertebral foramen than thoracic vertebra
    - smaller, bifid spinous processes
    - transverse processes have transverse foramina (house vertebral arteries from subclavian arteries –> brainstem)
    - C1/ C2 structurally different (see separate flash cards)
    - C7 = vertebra prominens: prominent spinous process
50
Q

LO: describe articulations of the vertebral column (2)

A
  • superior/ inferior articular facets of adjacent vertebrae articulate
  • articulation aligns: A) vertebral foramina, creating vertebral canal (houses SC); B) pedicles of adjacent vertebrae, creating intervertebral foramen (spinal nerves emerge bilaterally)
    1. Intervertebral discs: join adjacent vertebral bodies; consist of annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus
    2. Zygopophyseal joints: join superior/ inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae; are synovial joints
51
Q

LO: describe how the orientation of the zygopophyseal joints is different between the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae and how this influences mobility in each region

A
  • cervical: sloped from anterior to posterior; allows flexion/ extension, lateral flexion, rotation of cervical spine
  • thoracic: vertical; allows lateral flexion, rotation of thoracic spine
  • lumbar: wrapped; allows flexion/ extension only
52
Q

LO: identify distinguishing features of the thoracic vertebrae

A
  1. Thoracic
    - smaller vertebral bodies than lumbar
    - long, slender, inferiorly-oriented spinous processes
    - articulate with 12 pairs of ribs, thus have costal facets on: bodies (superior/ inferior demifacets) for articulation with head of rib; and transverse processes for articulation with tubercle of rib. Thus for 1 rib, head articulates with superior demifacet of rib and inferior demifacet of rib above, and tubercle of rib articulates with facet on transverse process
53
Q

LO: identify distinguishing features of the lumbar vertebrae

A
  1. Lumbar
    - largest vertebral bodies as bear most body weight
    - spinous process is blunt, square, and extends straight back from vertebral (neural) arch
54
Q

LO: identify distinguishing features of the sacral vertebrae

A
  1. Sacrum
    - begins embryologically as 5 separate sacral vertebrae that fuse by maturity to form a single bone
    - posterior surface: spinous tubercles (formed from spinous processes) with median crest running down either side, posterior sacral foramina (from intervertebral foramen), lateral sacral crests (from transverse processes), sacral canal (continuation of vertebral canal and opens inferiorly as sacral hiatus)
    - anterior surface: sacral promontory (feature of S1), anterior sacral foramina
55
Q

LO: identify distinguishing features of the coccygeal vertebrae

A
  1. Coccyx

- formed from 3-5 coccygeal vertebrae

56
Q

LO: Identify the ligaments of the vertebral column and understand their clinical significance in relation to herniated discs

A
  • segmental ligaments: interspinous, ligamenta flava
  • longitudinal ligaments: supraspinous, anterior/ posterior longitudinal ligaments
  • longitudinal ligaments reinforce anterior/ posterior aspects of intervertebral discs - thus herniated disc most commonly protrudes laterally into intervertebral foramen –> compressed spinal nerve/ root
57
Q

LO: Describe where spinal nerves exit vertebral column

A
  • bilaterally paired spinal nerves exit through intervertebral foramen (between pedicles of adjacent vertebrae)
58
Q

LO: Describe the convention by which spinal nerves are numbered, and why spinal nerves in the cervical region are numbered differently

A
  • spinal nerves numbered according to adjacent vertebrae
  • from thoracic region caudally, numbered according to vertebra above
  • because there are 8 pairs of cervical spinal nerves, they are numbered according to vertebra below (except for C8 which is above T1)
59
Q

LO: Describe the formation of a spinal nerve

A
  • each spinal nerve is formed within the intervertebral foramen by union of dorsal/ ventral rootlets
  • rootlets arise from the segment of the SC associated with its respective nerve, thus because the SC is shorter than the vertebral column, dorsal/ ventral rootlets increase in length caudally AS they descend to form a spinal nerve in their respective intervertebral foramen (spinal segments increasingly removed from corresponding vertebra)
60
Q

LO: Describe the length of the SC relative to the vertebral column and its clinical significance with regards to the site of an LP

A
  • SC is shorter than vertebral column
  • tip of SC (conus medullaris) adjacent to L2
  • LP at lumbar cistern (between L3-L4) to avoid hitting SC
61
Q

Describe potential space in SC

A
  • space between dura/ arachnoid layers of meninges, as arachnoid normally held against dura by hydrostatic pressure of CSF in subarachnoid space
62
Q

Cauda equina

A

= “horse’s tail”

  • spinal rootlets descending from SC to points of exit through intervertebral foramen of lower vertebrae
63
Q

LO: Describe the fibre types within dorsal/ ventral roots and how these differ from fibres types within spinal nerves and dorsal/ ventral rami

A
  1. Ventral (anterior) roots contain both somatic and visceral motor fibres = output
  2. Dorsal (posterior) roots contain all sensory fibres = input
  3. Spinal nerves: formed by union of dorsal/ ventral roots, thus contain all motor/ sensory fibres
  4. Dorsal/ ventral rami: formed from bifurcation of spinal nerves, thus also contain both motor sensory fibres
64
Q

LO: Describe the somatic/ autonomic innervation of the body wall

A
  1. Somatic: cell bodies of motor neurons in SC, synapse directly onto target skeletal muscle
  2. Autonomic: visceral motor neurons innervating body wall/ limbs (vascular smooth muscle, arrector pili muscle, glands) EXCLUSIVELY SYMPATHETIC. THERE IS NO PARASYMPATHETIC INNERVATION OF THE BODY WALL/ LIMBS!
65
Q

LO: Describe the path of sympathetic outflow from the SC to the body wall/ limbs

A
  • sympathetic neurons cell bodies do NOT synapse directly onto target tissue
  • preganglionic fibres travel through ventral root –> spinal nerve –> white ramus communicans –> sympathetic ganglion where synapses onto postganglionic neuronal cell body –> sympathetic chain –> postganglionic fibre –> grey ramus communicans –> spinal nerve –> rami
66
Q

LO: Describe the formation of a nerve plexus (ie. how ventral rami form plexi for innervation of limbs)

A
  • ventral rami form somatic plexi, which give rise to peripheral nerves in upper/ lower limbs
  • like hair in a braid, fibres from different origins overlap/ intermingle in plexus
67
Q

LO: Describe how components of a nerve plexus create peripheral nerves consisting of fibres from multiple spinal levels

A
  • spinal nerves –> rami that join to form trunks which divide into divisions before joining to form cords and finally dividing into branches
  • thus cutaneous distribution of single nerve will include portions of multiple dermatomes
68
Q

LO: Describe how sensory/ motor loss can follow a spinal level/ peripheral nerve pattern, and how to differentiate

A

Example 1:

  • thumb pad in C6 dermatome and middle finger in C7, both of which innervated by median nerve
  • C6 dermatome includes more than thumb pad and extends along anterior arm
  • anterior arm innervated by musculocutaneous/ radial nerves, NOT median nerve
  • thus if sensory loss in thumb pad/ anterior arm but spares middle finger, lesion of C6 spinal nerve
  • if sensory loss in thumb/ middle finger but spares forearm, lesion in peripheral median nerve

Example 2:

  • C7 myotome responsible for flexion/ extension of wrist but fibres delivered by median nerve for flexion and radial nerve for extension
  • flexion/ extension weakness suggests spinal involvement
  • weakness in just one suggests peripheral
  • pattern of sensory loss/ weakness tells where in NS damage occurred
69
Q

What are the targets of the NS in the body wall/ limbs?

A
  1. Skeletal voluntary muscle (innervated by somatic motor neurons)
  2. Vascular smooth involuntary muscle, arrector pili muscle, glands in skin (visceral motor neurons)
  3. Sensory receptors in skin (sensory neurons)
70
Q

Ganglia

A
  • collections of cell bodies in the PNS
70
Q

Dorsal root (spinal) ganglion

A
  • contains cell bodies of pseudounipolar sensory neurons, whose fibres convey info from receptors in periphery (body wall/ limbs AND viscera) to SC neurons
70
Q

Somatic nerves

A
  • arise from spinal nerves, thus are mixed nerves, containing both sensory/ motor fibres
70
Q

Describe brachial plexus

A
  1. Roots =ventral rami of C5-T1 spinal nerves
  2. Trunks: superior (C5, C6), middle (C7), inferior (C8, T1)
  3. Divisions: 3 trunks bifurcate –> divisions that join to create cords
  4. Cords: named relative to axillary artery - lateral (C5, C6, C7), medial (C8, T1), posterior (all)
  5. Branches: musculocutaneous, median, radial, ulnar = major peripheral nerves of upper limb

(Roy Thompson Drinks Cold Beer)

Anatomy (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions