Lecture 1 - Osteology Of The Vertebral Column Flashcards
What are the 3 functions of the vertebral column?
1) Main Axial Support - provides attachment for the skull, thorax, and pelvic girdle.
2) Protection - SC lies within the vertebral foramen. Spaces between adjacent vertebra provides a passage for the spinal nerves.
3) Flexibility- if it was a solid rod, we wouldn’t be as flexible. It is needed for trunk movements e.g. bending, twisting, and carrying loads.
General Structure of Vertebral Column:
- What is made from
- How are the segments connected to one another
- What is the purpose of the muscle
- What does the VC look like in front and on the side?
• made of a series of bony segments
• connected by ligaments and intervertebral discs (secondary cartilaginous joints)
• have muscles around VC provide power for movement
• front view: appears straight
Side view: appears curved
What is the advantage of having this configuration in VC:
It means that only a small displacement of multiple linkages is needed for a large motion to be generated.
If they had synovial joints (more mobile) instead of cartilaginous joints in intervertebral discs, then the VC will be more flexible but less stable.
Development of Curves:
As a foetus, only have one primary curvature.
When newborn, VC is straight but have a small curvature in the pelvis.
When adult, VC has fully developed. Have four curvatures: cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral.
Cervical and lumbar are secondary curvatures = Lordosis.
Thoracic and Sacral are primary curvatures = Kyphosis
The primary curves forms during foetal development and the second curves form after birth.
