Spine/Thorax Flashcards
Vertebral Column (Spine)
How many vertebrae?
Consists of:
24 vertebrae
7 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumbar
Also sacrum and coccyx are considered part of vertebral column
Cervical vertebrae
How many?
Where located?
They are?
Consists of?
7 (C1-C7) breakfast
Neck
Most mobile and accessible
Consists of body, pedicle, lamina and spinous process
Thoracic vertebrae
How many?
Where located?
Purpose?
12 (T1-T12) lunch
Upper back
Designed for minimal movement, help to stabilize the thoracic area and protect the internal organs
Lumbar vertebrae
How many?
Where located?
Purpose?
5 (L1-L5)
Lower back, larger and stockier
Located between 12th rib and posterior iliac chest
Designed to support weight of upper body
Thorax (Includes sternum and rib cage)
How many ribs?
Other factors? Costal cartilage?
Rib cage has 12 pairs of ribs and costal cartilage
Ribs 1-7 are known as true ribs because they attach directly to sternum
Ribs 8-12 are referred to as false ribs because they attach indirectly to the sternum by means of costal cartilage
Costal cartilage is identical in shape and size to ribs and serves as a bridge between the ribs and the sternum
Ribs 11 and 12 also considered floating ribs because they do not attach to sternum or costal cartilage at all
Spinous and transverse process
Protrude from each vertebrae
Helpful location points - ie C7 spinous prominence is visible and provides a great landmark
Short spinous process of the other vertebrae allow for good extension
Transverse processes are short and broad and give limitation to side bending when they come in contact
Side bending of the e cervical spine is always accompanied by slight rotation of the facets
Occiput, C1 & C2
Occipital bone - is the bottom of the backside of the skull
C1 - the Atlas, is greatly modified for articulation - it has no body or spinous process
C2 - the Axis, had considerable movement especially rotation
How many vertebrae does a person have?
32 to 34 depending on person
Includes cervical (7), thoracic (12), lumbar (5), sacrum (5), and coccyx (3-4 fused)
Vertebra are joined by?
Intervertebral disc -
merged into the bone line a tendon - no such thing as a slipped disc - it is slang for disc bulge or herniation
The disc, besides allowing movement between the vertebrae, acts as a shock absorber and weight bearer
Spine - functions
Stability - in weight bearing mode the weight must be taken by the strong, anterior disc joints
Flexibility - most movement occurs at the facet joints located in posterior (vertebral arch) area of the spinal column - allows movement via articulation
