Class 1 - Vertebral column Flashcards
Vertebral column contains ____ vertebrae
list the breakdown
33 vertebrae
7 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
5 sacral
4 coccygeal
Two functions of the vertebral column
- protects the spinal cord
- supports the trunk (rigid and flexible axis for body - posture and locomotion)
Spinal cord runs through the ______ ______
vertebral foramen
lamina + pedicles =
neural arch/vertebral arch
body + neural arch =
vertebral foramen
Articular facets
connect vertebrae to each other
costal facets
connect ribs to vertebra
ONLY THORACIC vertebrae have costal facets
Intervertebral foramina
formed by superior and inferior vertebral notches
transmits spinal nerve and accompanying vessels
Facets on superior and inferior articular process articulate to form the _______ _______
vertebral column
Characteristics of cervical vertebrae
-Overall small in size, with small bodies
-superior articular facets face superioposteriorly
-inferior articular facets face inferoanteriorly
-large, triangularly shaped vertebral foramen (d/t cervical enlargement of spinal cord
-bifid spinous process
C1 aka
atlas
Atlas (C1) characteristics
-no body (dens of C2 articulates with anterior arch of C1)
-posterior tubercle (no spinous process)
-groove for vertebral artery
C2 aka
Axis
Axis (C2) characteristics
-Dens (odontoid process) sticks up and can be considered the body of C1
-bifid spinous process
Atlanto-axial joint
responsible for rotation (shake head ‘no’)
Atlanto-occipital joint
Responsible for head flexion and extension (nod head ‘yes’)
Jefferson (burst) fracture
center of anterior arch fracture on C1
Hangman’s fracture
fracture of pedicle between articular facets on C2
Characteristics of thoracic vertebrae
-Overall intermediate in size, increasing inferiorly
- no transverse foramen
-small, round vertebral foramen
-spinous pocesses slope posterio-inferiorly, not bifid
-superior facets directed posteriorly
-inferior facets directed anteriorly
Complete costal facet on superior body of
T1
Demi-facet on inferior body of
T1
Demi-facets on superior and inferior bodies of
T2-9
Demi-facet on superior body of _____ only
T10
Complete costal facet on
T11 & T12