Vertebral Column Flashcards by Aliyah Thompson

4 Functions of the vertebral column

1) Support Body and maintaining posture
2) Protect the structures of the neck, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis
3) Protect the spinal cord
4) Help with progression

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Name the 5 regions of the vertebral column

Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacral, Caudal

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Area that the Lumbar Vertebrae is in is called

Loin

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Area the sacral vertebrae cover is called

Croup

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Area the caudal vertebrae cover is called

Tail

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Vertebral formula for dog

C7,T13, L7, S3, Cd20-23

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Vertebral Column for cats

C7, T13, L7, S3, Cd21-23

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What 2 structures make up the arch in a vertebrae

Lamina and Pedicle

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Hemilaminectomy/Laminectomy are

Removal of 1 lamina/Removal of both laminae

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What are 6 major structures on the vertebra

1) Body
2) Arch
3)Vertebral Foramen
4)Spine
5) Transverse Process
6) Cranial and Caudal articular surfaces

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What 2 structures does the Atlas lack

Spine and Body

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What are two distinguishable features the Atlas has

Modified articular processes and Thick transverse processes (wings)

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What are the 3 distinguishable features of the Axis

Elongated spine, dens that projects cranially, and cranial articular surface located in the body and continuous with the articulation area of dens

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What does the 7th cervical vertebrae lack

Transverse foramen

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Which cervical vertebrae has the tallest spine

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What foramen does the 1st cervical spinal nerve pass through

Lateral Vertebral Foramen

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What does the vertebral artery and vein pass through

Transverse foramen

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Spinal nerves and spinal blood vessels pass through what

Intervertebral Foramen

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What do the thoracic vertebrae articulate with

Ribs

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Where does the rib head articulate with the thoracic vertebrae

In the cranial and caudal costal foveae (demifacets)

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Where does the rib tubercle articulate with the thoracic vertebrae

Transverse foveae

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The spinous process of T11 is described as

Anticlinal

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T1-T3 all have spinous processes that are

The same length

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4 characteristics to describe Lumbar vertebrae

1) Longer, uniform bodies
2) Long transverse processes
3) Absence of costal facets
4) Short, cranially pointing spine

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Fused spine of sacral vertebrae is called

Medial sacral crest (is palpable)

The 2 pairs of foramen in the sacrum are called

Dorsal sacral foramina and Ventral sacral foramina

Which two spinal nerves pass through the dorsal and ventral sacral foramina

1st and 2nd sacral spinal nerves

The auricular surface with the ilium is called

Sacroiliac join

The sacroiliac joints are what type of joint

Synovial/Fibrous

Sacroiliac joints serve what functions

Shock absorption, add firmness

What is the average number of caudal vertebrae

As the caudal vertebrae proceed caudally, what happens

They lose distinctive features

What are the two main types of joints in the vertebral column

Cartilaginous and Synovial

Where are cartilaginous joints found in the vertebral column

Intervertebral disks (between vertebral bodies)

What are 3 types of synovial joints found in the vertebral column

Plane, Hinge/Ginglymus, and Pivot

What type of joint are articular processes

Plane

What type of joint is the Atlanto-occipital joint

Hinge/Ginglymus

What type of joint is the atlanto-axial joint

Pivot

Between which two cervical vertebrae are the intervertebral disks missing

The 1st and 2nd cervical vertebrae

The annulus fibrosis is

The outer fibrous ring of the intervertebral disks

The nucleus pulposus is

The gel-like center of the intervertebral disk made of fluid and cartilage

What vertebral ligament is present in dogs but not cats

Nuchal ligament

The yellow ligament(interactuate/Flava) is located

Between the vertebral arches

Interspinous ligament is located

Obliquely across intercostal space (between spines of vertebrae)

Supraspinatous ligament is a caudal continuation of which ligament

Nuchal ligament

Which ligament extends from the 8th thoracic vertebra to sacrum

Ventral longitudinal ligament

What are 2 characteristics of the dorsal longitudinal ligament

Extends from axis to sacrum and is well developed in the cervical region compared to the caudal thorax and lumbar

What is the location of the intercapital ligament

Between rib heads T2-T10

At which 3 locations can you perform a spinal tap

1) atlanto-occipital space 2) atlanto-axial space 3) Lumbo-sacral space

3 common clinical conditions pertaining to the vertebral column are

1) intervertabral disk disease 2) wobbler’s syndrome 3) lumbosacral stenosis

Synonyms of Intevertebral disk diseases(IVDD) are

Disc rupture, Herniation, Slipped disc

What happens in IVDD

Nucleus pulposus degenerates, annulus fibrosis cracks, nuclear content extrudes upwards and compresses spinal cord/nerve root. Mostly in thoracolumbar area

What breeds are more susceptible to IVDD

Chondrodystrophoid breeds (Dachshunds, Beagles, Basset Hounds, and Poodles)

What is Wobbler’s disorder

Degenerative disorder associated w/ vertebral malformation that leads to narrowing of vertebral canal and spinal cord/nerve root compression

Which breeds are more disposed to Wobbler’s disorder

Great Danes and Doberman Pinschers

What are two signs of Wobbler’s

Ataxia in rear limbs and flexed neck

Lumbosacral stenosis is also called

Cauda Equina Syndrome

What 4 things characterize Lumbosacral Stenosis

Severe back/tail pain, difficulty rising, urination incontinence, and muscular paresis/paralysis

Lumbosacral Stenosis causes arthritic changes between which vertebrae

L7 to the Sacrum

Lumbosacral stenosis is

The narrowing of the vertebral canal and nerve root compression

How would you decide to take a medical treatment approach for Lumbosacral Stenosis

If the animal shows minor neurological deficits and is in low grade pain

How would you decide to take a surgical approach to treat Lumbosacral Stenosis

If the animal has persistent and severe pain, difficulty walking and standing

What are some medical treatments for Lumbosacral Stenosis

Anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and rest

How would you surgically treat Lumbosacral Stenosis

Remove the extruded disc material to relieve pressure

What type of breeds are predisposed to Lumbosacral Stenosis

Large breeds from 3-7 years old

What are 4 decompressive surgeries

Fenestration, Ventral Slot, Hemilaminectomy, Dorsal laminectomy

What is the Fenestration Surgery technique

disk space is opened, and the nucleus pulposus is removed without entering the spinal canal

What is the ventral slot technique

Ventral approach of the spinal cord through bone (Only done with cervical disk cases)

What is the hemilaminectomy technique

Approach of the spinal cord from the right or left side (Usually done with thoracolumbar disk)

What is the dorsal laminectomy technique

Dorsal approach of the spinal cord (Performed in some cervical, thoracolumbar, and lumbar disc cases)

3 major parts of a rib

Head, tuberculum, and body

What does the rib head articulate with

Costal foveae of 2 successive vertebrae

What does the rib tubercle articulate with

Transverse costal foveae

Which ribs articulate with the sternum

The first 9

Which 3 ribs form the costal arch

Ribs 10, 11, and 12

Another term for the 13th rib

Floating rib

Manubrium is

The 1st sternebra

Xiphoid process is

Last sternebra

Xiphoid cartilage is

The caudal end of the process

Sternum has ___ unpaired segments

4 joints of the thorax

1) costo-vertebral 2) costo-transverse 3) costo-sternal 4) intersternal

Costo-vertebral joint is classified as a

Ball and socket joint

Costo-trsansverse joint is classified as

Plane joint

Costo-sternal joint is classified as

Synovial hinge joint

Intersternal joint is classified as a

Cartilagenous joint

What is the action for all 3 epaxial muscle systems

To extend the vertebral column

What are the 3 epaxial muscle systems

Iliocostalis, longissimus, and Transversospinalis

What are the two parts of the iliocostalis system

Lumborum and thoracis regions

What are the 4 parts of the longissimus system

Lumborum, thoracis, cervicis, and capitis

What are the 2 parts of the transversospinalis muscle

Splenius and semispinalis muscles

What is the function of the hypaxial muscles

To flex the vertebral column

What are the 5 hypaxial muscles of the neck

Longus capitis, Longus colli, Sternocephalicus, Sternothyroideus, and Sternohyoideus

What are the 6 hypaxial muscles of the thoracic wall

Scalenus, Serratus ventralis, Serratus dorsalis (Cranialis and Caudalis) External intercostal, Internal intercostal, and rectus thoracis