Bones of vertebral column

Question 1

How many vertebrae are there?

Answer 1

33

Question 2

How is the vertebral column divided into different regions?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

How many discrete vertebrae are there?

Answer 3

24

Question 4

What do the 9 inferior vertebrae form?

Answer 4

5 sacral vertebrae fuse together to form the sacrum

4 coccygeal vertebrae fuse together to form the coccyx

Question 5

What are the most mobile regions of the vertebral column?

Answer 5

Cervical

Lumbar

Question 6

What is a relatively immobile region of the vertebral column? Why?

Answer 6

Thoracic

Because of the articulations with the ribs

Question 7

How do the most mobile regions of the vertebral column translate clinically?

Answer 7

Neck pain and lower back pain are most common

Question 8

What happens to the sizes of the vertebrae as you move down the vertebral column? Why?

Answer 8

Become larger

because are bearing more weight

Question 9

What is the basic structure of a typical vertebrae?

Answer 9

Vertebral body - anterior
Vertebral arch - posterior
Seven processes

Question 10

What are the seven process in a vertebrae?

Answer 10

Spinous process
Transverse process x2
Superior articular process x2
Inferior articular process x2

Question 11

What shape is the vertebral body?

Answer 11

Kidney bean shaped

Question 12

What is the largest part of a vertebrae?

Answer 12

Usually the vertebral body

Question 13

What is the function of the vertebral body?

Answer 13

Give strength to vertebral column

support weight, usually

Question 14

What happens to the sizes of the vertebral bodies as you move down the vertebral column? Why?

Answer 14

Become larger

because are bearing more weight

Question 15

What is the bone composition of the vertebral body?

Answer 15

90% spongey bone

10% compact bone

Question 16

Where do adjacent vertebrae come into most contact with each other?

Answer 16

The vertebral body

Question 17

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

Answer 17

Discs of hyaline cartilage

Question 18

What are the discs of hyaline cartilage called?

Answer 18

Vertebral end plates

Question 19

What is the spinous process?

Answer 19

Projection of bone
in the midline
points posteriorly and somewhat inferiorly

Question 20

Where does the spinous process arise from?

Answer 20

Junction between two laminae

Question 21

What are the transverse processes?

Answer 21

Two of them - left and right
projection of bone
point postero-laterally

Question 22

Where do the transverse processes arise from?

Answer 22

Junction between pedicles and lamina

Question 23

What are the superior articular processes?

Answer 23

Projection of bone
project superiorly as name suggests
have an articulating surface

Question 24

What do the superior articular processes articulate with?

Answer 24

The inferior articular processes of the above vertebrae

Question 25

What are the inferior articular processes?

Answer 25

Projection of bone project inferiorly as name suggests have an articualting surface

Question 26

What do the inferior articular processes articulate with?

Answer 26

The superior articular surfaces of vertebrae below

Question 27

What are the superior and inferior articulating surfaces lined with?

Answer 27

Cartilage

Question 28

What is the name of the joint between the superior and inferior articulating surfaces?

Answer 28

Facet joint

Question 29

What type of joint are facet joints?

Answer 29

Synovial | Planar type

Question 30

What are the functions of the facet joints?

Answer 30

Lock the vertebrae in place, preventing anterior dislocation Give a degree of movement Bear a small amount of weight

Question 31

Which movements can occur at the facet joints?

Answer 31

Flexion, extension Rotation

Question 32

What does the degree of flexion, extension, rotation depend on?

Answer 32

The orientation of the articular surfaces forming the facet joints

Question 33

What forms the vertebral arch?

Answer 33

Lamina x2 - right and left | Pedicles x2 - right and left

Question 34

What is a lamina?

Answer 34

Bone in between transverse process and spinous | process

Question 35

What is a pedicle?

Answer 35

Bone in between transverse process and vertebral body

Question 36

What is the vertebral foreamen?

Answer 36

Gap created by posterior surface of verteberal body and vertebral arch

Question 37

What is the vertebral canal?

Answer 37

Empty column created by the succession of vertebral foramina

Question 38

What lies in the vertebral canal?

Answer 38

The spinal cord Roots of spinal nerves as they emerge from spinal cord Vessels that suply them

Question 39

What are the vertebral notches?

Answer 39

Two of them Indentations above and below pedicle in between vertebral body and articular processes

Question 40

What is the intervertebral foramen?

Answer 40

Gap formed by vertebral notches of adjacent vertebrae

Question 41

What runs through the intervertebral foramen?

Answer 41

Dorsal root ganglion Spinal nerve Vessels that supply them

Question 42

What are the functions of the vertebral column?

Answer 42

Support - skull - thoracic cage - upper limbs - pelvis Protection - spinal cord - cauda equina Movement -very flexible Haemopoiesis - occurs in red marrow