Ch. 6 Vertebral Column

Question 1

Vertebral column location

Answer 1

posterior portion of the trunk

Question 2

Functions of the vertebral column

Answer 2

Posture
Support of weight
Protection for spinal cord and spinal nerves
Partial protection for thoracic and abdominal organs

Question 3

Three types of bones in vertebral column

Answer 3

1. Moveable presacral vertebrae
2. Sacrum
3. Coccyx

Question 4

of Cervical Vertebrae

Answer 4

7

Question 5

of Thoracic vertebrae

Answer 5

12

Question 6

of Lumbar vertebrae

Answer 6

5

Question 7

of fused sacral vertebrae

Answer 7

5

Question 8

of fused coccyx vertebrae

Answer 8

4

Question 9

Total # of vertebrae before fusion

Answer 9

33

Question 10

Fetal Curvature

Answer 10

In fetus, the vertebral column exhibits one curvature which is CONCAVE ANTERIORLY (also convex posteriorly). This is PRIMARY CURVATURE.

Question 11

Why was fetal curvature primary?

Answer 11

Result of differences in height between the anterior and posterior aspects of vertebral bodies.

Question 12

How many curvatures in the adult vertebral column?

Answer 12

4 (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral)

Question 13

Which curves retained primary curvature?

Answer 13

Thoracic and Sacral

Question 14

Which curves are secondary?

Answer 14

Cervical and Lumbar

Question 15

Secondary Curvature

Answer 15

Concave posteriorly due to difference in the heights between the anterior and posterior aspects of intervertebral discs

Question 16

Large round mass of vertebra: it forms the anterior aspect of the vertebra

Answer 16

Vertebral Body

Question 17

Posterior to the body, bone formed by two pedicles and two laminae

Answer 17

Vertebral arch

Question 18

A bridge of bone extending from the posterior aspect of the body.

Answer 18

Pedicle

Question 19

A flat plate extending from the pedicle; fuse with each other in the median plane

Answer 19

Lamina

Question 20

Hole in the center of the vertebrae that houses the spinal cord

Answer 20

Vertebral foramen

Question 21

Boundaries of the vertebral foramen

Answer 21

Anterior: body
Posterior: laminae
Lateral: pedicles

Question 22

Formed by the individual vertebral foramina when the 24 presacral vertebrae are articulated

Answer 22

Vertebral canal

Question 23

A single process that projects posteriorly from each vertebral arch at the junction of the two laminae

Answer 23

Spinous process

Question 24

Two processes that project inferiorly to articulate with the Superior Articular Processes of the infradjacent vertebra.

Answer 24

Inferior articular process

Question 25

Two processes that project superiorly to articulate with the inferior articular processes of the suprajacent vertebra.

Answer 25

Superior articular process

Question 26

Lies between the superior and inferior articular processes

Answer 26

Zagopophyseal (facet) joint

Question 27

Found on the superior and inferior surface of the pedicle

Answer 27

Vertebral notches

Question 28

When two vertebrae articulate, vertebral notches form the _____ which transmits the spinal nerve

Answer 28

Intervertebral foramen

Question 29

Typical cervical vertebrae include a

Answer 29

1. Transverse foramen - found in the transverse process of ALL cervical vertebrae. 2. Bifid spinous process: divides into two smaller projections. 3. Bifid transverse processes: Divided into two projections, the anterior and posterior tubercles.

Question 30

The vertebral artery ascends through the transverse foramen from _____.

Answer 30

CV6-CV1

Question 31

Bifid spinous processes are found on vertebrae

Answer 31

CV2-CV6

Question 32

Bifid transverse processes are split into ________ and are found on cervical vertebrae ______

Answer 32

Anterior and posterior tubercles | CV3-CV6

Question 33

Specialized Cervical Vertebrae

Answer 33

CV1 Atlas CV2 Axis CV7 Vertebra Prominens

Question 34

Characteristics of Atlas

Answer 34

No body, is replaced by dens of CV2 No laminae or spinous processes Posterior arch

Question 35

Characteristics of Axis

Answer 35

Prominent superior projection called dens process OR odontoid process. Extends to the atlas

Question 36

Characteristics of Vertebra Prominens

Answer 36

Longest and most prominent spinous process of all the cervical vertebrae Does not bifurcate Important in counting vertebrae Vertebral vein is the only vessel coursing through its transverse foramen

Question 37

What courses through the transverse foramen of the Vertebra prominens?

Answer 37

Vertebral vein

Question 38

Characteristics of Thoracic vertebrae

Answer 38

1. Transverse costal facets 2. No foramina 3. Costovertebral joint 4. Costotransverse joint

Question 39

Facets on the transverse process for articulation with the ribs

Answer 39

Transverse costal facets

Question 40

Articulations with the rib in thoracic vertebrae include:

Answer 40

Costovertebral joint | Costotransverse joint

Question 41

joint in which the head of the rib articulates with the body of vertebrae

Answer 41

Costovertebral joint

Question 42

Joint in which the tubercle of the rib articulates with the transverse process of the vertebra

Answer 42

Costotransverse joint

Question 43

Characteristics of Lumbar vertebrae

Answer 43

1. No foramina or facets in transverse process 2. Largest in size 3. Spinous processes are in quadrangular shape

Question 44

Presacral vertebrae increase in size going ___ to ___

Answer 44

Superior to Inferior

Question 45

Why do presacral vertebrae increase in size inferiorly?

Answer 45

Each successive vertebra must support all structures superior to it

Question 46

Sacrum and coccygeal vertebrae _____ in size moving inferiorly

Answer 46

decrease

Question 47

Characteristics of Sacrum

Answer 47

1. 5 fused vertebrae | 2. Two surfaces, pelvic and dorsal

Question 48

Superior articulation of the sacrum

Answer 48

The intervertebral disc inferior to LV5 articulates with the sacral promontory

Question 49

Lateral articulation of the sacrum

Answer 49

the Ala of the sacrum articulates with the ilium of the hip bone.

Question 50

The ala of the sacrum articulates with the

Answer 50

ilium of the hip bone

Question 51

Pelvic sacral foramina

Answer 51

Four pairs of openings for ventral rami of S1-S4

Question 52

Median sacral crest

Answer 52

A ridge remnant of the spinous processes of the superior 3 to 4 sacral vertebrae

Question 53

Dorsal sacral foramina

Answer 53

Four pairs of foramina for the dorsal rami S1 to S4

Question 54

Sacral Hiatus

Answer 54

An opening due to the absence of laminae on the fifth sacral segment

Question 55

Coccyx

Answer 55

Made up of 4 fused vertebrae