axial skeleton part 2

Question 1

What is the vertebral column?

Answer 1

spine

Question 2

What does the vertebral column consist of?

Answer 2

24 single bones (vertebrae) and 2 fused bones (sacrum & coccyx)

Question 3

What are the functions of the vertebral column?

Answer 3

axial support and weight bearing, transfers weight to lower limbs, surrounds & protects spinal cord

Question 4

When are spinal curves developed?

Answer 4

all 4 are developed by age 10

Question 5

When are primary curvatures present?

Answer 5

at birth

Question 6

What are the primary curvatures?

Answer 6

thoracic curve & sacral curves; give the baby “C” posture

Question 7

When do the secondary curvatures develop?

Answer 7

after birth

Question 8

What are the secondary curvatures?

Answer 8

cervical curve & lumbar curve

Question 9

When does the cervical curve develop?

Answer 9

as infants learn to balance the weight of their head on their neck

Question 10

When does the lumbar curve develop?

Answer 10

with the ability to stand; balances the weight of the trunk over the lower limbs

Question 11

What are the abnormal spinal curvatures?

Answer 11

kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis

Question 12

What is kyphosis?

Answer 12

the thoracic curve becomes exaggerated posteriorly, producing a rounded-back or “humpback”

Question 13

What is lordosis?

Answer 13

an anterior exaggeration of the lumbar curve; bending backward or “swayback”

Question 14

What is scoliosis?

Answer 14

abnormal lateral curvature of the spine; most common distortion of the spinal curvature

Question 15

What is the vertebral body?

Answer 15

rounded central portion; transfers weight along the axis of the vertebral column

Question 16

What are characteristics of the vertebral body?

Answer 16

connected to adjacent vertebrae by ligaments; have intervertebral discs

Question 17

What are intervertebral discs?

Answer 17

fibrocartilage pads that separate vertebrae & absorb shock

Question 18

What is the vertebral foramen?

Answer 18

where spinal cord passes through

Question 19

What is the spinous process?

Answer 19

the part you can feel & see on your back

Question 20

What is the transverse process?

Answer 20

two lateral projections; sites for muscle attachments & may articulate with the ribs

Question 21

What are the intervertebral foramina?

Answer 21

gaps between the pedicles of successive vertebrae; permit nerves to pass to & from the spinal cord

Question 22

What are pedicles?

Answer 22

connect the body with the transverse processes

Question 23

What are lamina?

Answer 23

connect the transverse processes with the spinous process

Question 24

What are the cervical vertebrae?

Answer 24

of the neck; C1-C7 (7 vertebrae)

Question 25

What is the atlas?

Answer 25

C1; lacks a body & spinous process; the articulation with the occipital condyles of the skull allows you to nod your head “yes”

Question 26

What is the axis?

Answer 26

C2; acts as a pivot for rotation of the atlas & skull; joint between C1 & C2 allows you to rotate your head to say “no”

Question 27

What is the odontoid process (dens)?

Answer 27

part of the axis; large vertical process that is the pivot point

Question 28

What are C3-C7?

Answer 28

the smallest, lightest vertebrae; spinous process divided into 2 branches (“split tip”); transverse processes have transverse foramina where vertebral arteries pass to the brain

Question 29

What is C7?

Answer 29

vertebrae prominens

Question 30

What are the thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 30

T1-T12 (12 vertebrae)

Question 31

What are costal facets?

Answer 31

on the thoracic vertebrae; articulating surfaces on each side that articulate with the ribs

Question 32

What are characteristics of the thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 32

body is larger than cervical & somewhat heart-shaped; spinous process is long with a sharp downward angle; vertebral foramen is circular

Question 33

What are the lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 33

L1-L5 (5 vertebrae)

Question 34

What are the characteristics of the lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 34

large body; oval-shaped; vertebral foramen is triangular; short, thick, hatchet-shaped spinous processes; sturdiest because they are subjected to the most stress

Question 35

What is the sacrum?

Answer 35

5 fused vertebrae; forms the posterior border of pelvis

Question 36

What is the median sacral crest?

Answer 36

remnants of the spinous process of the fused vertebrae

Question 37

What is the ala?

Answer 37

wing-like projections that articulate with hip bones (sacroiliac/SI joint)

Question 38

What is the sacral promontory?

Answer 38

the prominent ridge on the anterior side of the 1st sacral vertebrae

Question 39

What are the sacral foramina?

Answer 39

openings for passage of the sacral nerves

Question 40

What is the coccyx?

Answer 40

4 fused vertebrae (3-5 bones); remnant of the tail

Question 41

What is the bony thorax/thoracic cage?

Answer 41

composed of sternum, ribs, & thoracic vertebrae; forms protective cage surrounding the heart, lungs, etc.

Question 42

What is the sternum/breastbone?

Answer 42

flat bone; fusion of 3 bones: manubrium, body, & xiphoid process

Question 43

What is the manubrium?

Answer 43

articulates with clavicles (collar bones) and the cartilages of the 1st ribs

Question 44

What is the body?

Answer 44

where ribs 2-7 attach

Question 45

What is the xiphoid process?

Answer 45

where the diaphragm and rectus abdominis muscle attach

Question 46

What is the area where the manubrium articulates with the clavicle?

Answer 46

sternoclavicular/SC joint

Question 47

How many pairs of ribs are there?

Answer 47

12; all articulate posteriorly to the vertebral column

Question 48

What are true ribs?

Answer 48

the 1st 7 pairs; attach directly to the sternum by individual costal cartilages

Question 49

What are false ribs?

Answer 49

the next 5 pairs; pairs 8-10 have indirect cartilage attachments to the sternum; the last 2 pairs are floating ribs (no sternal attachment)