Chapter 7: The Axial Skeleton - Vertebral Column

Question 1

Spinal column functions (3)

Answer 1

1. encloses and protects the spinal cord
2. supports the head
3. serves as a point of attachment for ribs, pelvic girdle, and muscles of the back and upper limbs

Question 2

How many vertebrae does an adult have?

A child?

Answer 2

26

33 (some fuse later)

Question 3

What is the neck region of the spinal column and how many vetebrae are there?

Answer 3

the cervical region

7 vertebrae

Question 4

What is the section of spinal column posterior to the thoracic cavity and how many vertebrae does it contain?

Answer 4

thoracic vertebrae

12 thoracic vertebrae

Question 5

Area of spinal column posterior the abdomen and how many vertebrae?

Answer 5

Lumbar vetebrae

5 lumbar vetebrae

Question 6

Area of spinal column below th e lumbar region that consists of how many fused vertebrae?

Answer 6

the sacrum

consists of 5 fused sacral vertebrae

Question 7

Area of vertebral column thtat usually consists of how many fused of what kind of vertebrae

(Tailbone)

Answer 7

Coccyx

usually 4 fused coccygeal vertebrae

Question 8

What are the slight curves in the spinal column called and how many are there?

Answer 8

normal curves

4

Question 9

What are the two curves that buldge out the back of the body?

Answer 9

cervical and lumbar curve

Question 10

What are the two normal curves that curve into the body?

Answer 10

thoracic and sacral

Question 11

FUnctions of the normal curves of the spine? (4)

Answer 11

• increase strength of spine
• help maintain balance
• absorb shock during walking
• help protect vertebrae from fractures

Question 12

Describe the curve(s) of a fetal spine

Answer 12

A single, anteriorly concave curve (buldging out the back) throughout the entire length of the spinal column

Question 13

Why are sacral and thoracic curves called the primary curves?

Answer 13

They maintain the curvature present in the fetus

Question 14

Why are cervical and lumbar curves known as seconday curves?

Answer 14

These curves form later, several months after birth

Question 15

By what age are all curves fully developed?

Answer 15

10

Question 16

Which curves can be progressively lost with old age?

Answer 16

seconday curves - cervical and lumbar

Question 17

These are found between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae from the second cervical vertbrae to the sacrum

Answer 17

intervertebral discs

Question 18

What are the two components of an intervertebral disc

Answer 18

annulus fibrosus

nucleus pulposus

Question 19

The annulus fibrosis is what?

Answer 19

outer ring of the intervertebal disc that is made of fibrocartilage

Question 20

What is the nucleus pulposus?

Answer 20

The inner, soft, pulpu, highly elastic substance inside the intervertebral disc

Question 21

What is found on the inferior and superior surfaces of the intervertebral discs?

Answer 21

hyaline carticlage

Question 22

What are the functions of the intervertebral discs?

Answer 22

1. form strong joints
2. permit various movements of the vertebral column
3. absorb vertical shock

Question 23

What happens to intervertebral disc under compression?

Answer 23

they flatten and broaden

Question 24

The basic components typically found in a vertbrae?

Answer 24

1. Vertebral body
2. vertebral arch
3. several processes

Question 25

This part of a vartebrae is the thick, disc shaped anterior portion that is weight bearing. Surfaces roughened for attachment of the intervertebral discs contains the nutrient formina for blood vessels

Answer 25

veretbral body

Question 26

Describe the size of the cervical vertebrae

Answer 26

smallest body largest arch contain the cervical enlargement of the vertebral column and therefore the vertebral foramina is largest here contain one vertebral foramen and 2 transverse foramina

Question 27

What do transverse foramina on the cervical vertebrae house and where on the vertebrae are they located?

Answer 27

One through each cervical transverse process houses the vertebral artery and the accompanying vein and nerve fibres

Question 28

How is C1 different from all other vertbrae?

Answer 28

Called atlas A ring of bone with anterior and posterior arches and large lateral masses no body or spinous process

Question 29

What do the superior articular facets of the lateral masses of the atlas vertbra (C1) articulate with?

Answer 29

They articulate with the occipital bone to form the atlantooccipital joints

Question 30

What do the inferior articular facts of the atlas (C1) articulate with?

Answer 30

C2 - the second cervical vertebrae called the AXIS

Question 31

Describe the axis vertebra

Answer 31

has a vertebral body has an odotoid process - called the dens

Question 32

what is the process on the AXIS called that projects superiorly through the anterior portion of the vertebral foramen of the atlas?

Answer 32

The odontoid process or DENS

Question 33

What makes the atlanto-axial joint

Answer 33

the C1 Atlas and the C2 Axis They articulate between the anterior arch of the atlas and dens of the axis and between their articular facets

Question 34

What is C7 called?

Answer 34

vertebra prominens

Question 35

What is C7 vertebra prominens different from C3-C6

Answer 35

has a large, ninbifid spinous process that may be seen and felt at the base of the neck

Question 36

Difference between t1-t10 and t11 and 12

Answer 36

The spinous process of T1-T10 are long, laterally flattened and directed inferiorly The spinous process of T11 and T12 are shorter and broader and directed more posteriorly

Question 37

What facets are unique to the thoracic vertebra (T1-T10, not 11 or 12)?

Answer 37

costal facets articular surfaces for ribs

Question 38

What does a demifacet articulate with?

Answer 38

when the head of a rib articulates with two adjacent vertebral bodies

Question 39

What does a facet articulate with?

Answer 39

one vertebral body and one head of a rib

Question 40

Joints between ribs and thoracic verttebra are called?

Answer 40

vertebrocostal joints

Question 41

Largest and strongest unfused bones in vertebral column

Answer 41

lumbar spine

Question 42

What is the sacrum

Answer 42

a triangular bone formed by union of 5 sacral vetebrae begin to fuse between 16-18 years old and usually complete by 30 female sacrum is shorter and wide and more curved between S2 and S3 than the male sacrum

Question 43

This is triangular in shape, formed by the fusion of 4 coccygeal vertebra (Co1-Co4) usually fuses around 20 -30 years old

Answer 43

the coccyx

Question 44

Coccygeal cornua

Answer 44

connected by the ligaments to the sacral cornua

Question 45

What does thorax mean?

Answer 45

Entire chest region

Question 46

The skeletal part of the thorax?

Answer 46

the thoracic cage

Question 47

This is formed by the sternum, ribs and their costal cartilages, and the bodies of the thoracic vetebra

Answer 47

Thoracic cage

Question 48

The flat, narrow bone that is located in the center of the anterior thoracic wall and is about 15 cm and consists of three parts

Answer 48

Sternum (breastbone)

Question 49

The three parts of the sternum (typically fuse by age 25)

Answer 49

1. Manubrium 2. body 3. xiphoid process

Question 50

The middle and largest part of the sternum

Answer 50

The Body

Question 51

The superior portion of the sternum

Answer 51

Manubrium

Question 52

The inferior part of the sternum

Answer 52

the xiphoid process

Question 53

Junction of the manubrium and body forms this

Answer 53

sternal angle

Question 54

the depression on the manubriums superior surface

Answer 54

the suprasternal notch

Question 55

Lateral notches on the superior surface on the manubrium, that articulate with the clavicles

Answer 55

clavicular notches

Question 56

What joint is formed by the articulation of the clavicular notches of the manubrium and the clavicles

Answer 56

sternoclavicular joints

Question 57

What does the xiphoid process consist of until about age 40

Answer 57

hyaline cartilage

Question 58

Function of xiphoid process

Answer 58

attachment of some abdominal muscles

Question 59

How many pairs of ribs are there

Answer 59

12

Question 60

Rib 1-7

Answer 60

increase in length

Question 61

Rib 7-12

Answer 61

decrease in length

Question 62

Which ribs have a direct anterior attachment to teh sternum by a strip of hyaline cartilage called costal cartilage? These are called true ribs

Answer 62

ribs 1-7

Question 63

the joints between true ribs (1-7) and the sternum with hyaline cartilcage is called

Answer 63

sternocostal joints

Question 64

What are ribs 8-12 known as since they do not directly articulate with sternum

Answer 64

false ribs

Question 65

What are vertebrochondral ribs?

Answer 65

ribs 8-10 attch together with cartilage and that aartilage connects them to the 7th rib

Question 66

What are the false ribs 11 and 12 called?

Answer 66

floating ribs

Question 67

Why are 11 and 12 called floating ribs?

Answer 67

they do not connect to the sternum indirectly or directly at all