Vertebral Column Flashcards
1
Q
What is the vertebral column?
A
The skeleton of neck and back
2
Q
What are the functions of the vertebral column
A
to support weight, protect spinal cord, serve as an axis and pivot, and aid posture/movement
3
Q
How many differential segments are there?
A
5
4
Q
What are the differential segments of the vertebral column?
A
Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal
5
Q
How many cervical vertebrae are there?
A
7 (C1 - C7)
6
Q
How many lumbar vertebrae are there?
A
5 (L1 - L5)
7
Q
How many thoracic vertebrae are there?
A
12 (T1 - T12)
8
Q
How many sacral vertebrae are there?
A
5 (S1 - S5)
9
Q
How many variable coccygeal vertebrae are there?
A
typically 4 (Co1 - Co4)
10
Q
What are the ventral and dorsal sides of a vertebra called, respectively?
A
vertebral body and vertebral/neural arch
11
Q
What does the vertebral/neural arch consist of?
A
paired laminae and pedicles
12
Q
What is the function of the pedicles?
A
They join the vertebral arch and body
13
Q
What are laminae?
A
flat plates contacting pedicles
14
Q
What do the vertebral foramen form?
A
the vertebral canal
15
Q
What landmark do the superior and inferior vertebral notches form?
A
The intervertebral foramen
16
Q
What forms the intervertebral foramen?
A
the superior and inferior vertebral notches
17
Q
What forms the vertebral canal?
A
The vertebral foramen
18
Q
What does the vertebral process consist of?
A
spinous process, transverse process, and articular process/zygopophysis
19
Q
Together, the spinous process, transverse process, and articular process/zgopopheysis make up what?
A
The vertebral process
20
Q
How many spinous processes are there per vertebra?
A
1
21
Q
How many transverse processes are there per vertebra?
A
2
22
Q
How many articular processes/zygapophyses are there per vertebra?
A
4
23
Q
Name the articular processes/zygapophyses based on their location on the vetebra
A
The 2 superior ones are called pre-zygapophyses.
The 2 inferior ones are called post-zygapophyses
24
Q
What conveys vertebral arteries?
A
transverse foramina on CERVICAL vertebrae
25
What type of vertebral segment has transverse foramina?
cervical
26
What structures are located on the transverse processes of cervical vertebrae?
anterior and posterior tubercles
27
What is the name of the anterior tubercle of C6?
carotid tubercle
28
Why are the vertebral foramina of C3 - C7 large?
Do to the cervical enlargement of the spinal cord
29
What is the raised margin of the superior border of the body of cervical vertebrae called?
uncinate process
30
What cervical vertebra articulates with occipital condyles?
C1 / atlas
31
What vertebra laces a vertebral body?
C1 / atlas
32
What vertebra has a groove for vertebral artery on superior surface?
C1 / atlas
33
What is the name of the former body of C1, which is the pivot for skull, on C2 called?
dens/odontoid process
34
What is another name for C2?
axis
35
What is the name of the long spinous process on C7 called?
vertebra prominens
36
What cervical vertebra is the vertebra prominens on?
C7
37
What is the name of the structure on a thoracic vertebra that articulates with the rib head?
the superior and inferior costal facets of adjacent thoracic vertebrae come together to form a space that articulates with the rib head.
38
What is the name of the structure on a thoracic vertebra that articulates with the rib tubercle?
transverse costal facet
39
Describe the spinous process on a thoracic vertebra
long and slender
40
What is the name of the structure that is positioned posteriorly on each transverse process (attachment for intertransverse lumborum muscles) on a lumbar vertebra?
accessory process
41
What is the name of the structure on a lumbar vertebra that is an attachment for multifidus and median intertransverse muscles?
mammillary process
42
Which vertebra is the largest in vertebral column?
L5
43
Which lumbar vertebra is a huge contributor to lumbosacral angle?
L5
44
What is the name of the angle between lumbar and sacral vertebrae?
lumbosacral angle
45
Which vertebrae fuse to form sacrum?
sacral
46
What do the sacral vertebrae do to form the sacrum?
fuse
47
What is the function of the sacral vertebrae?
to transfer body weight to pelvis and contribute to strength and stability
48
What is the name of the sacral continuation of vertebral canal?
sacral canal
49
What is the name of the space between sacral vertebrae (laterally positioned)?
sacral foramina
50
What is the name of the anterosuperior projecting edge of S1?
sacral promontory
51
What is the name of the fused spinous processes on the sacrum?
median crest
52
What is the name of the fused articular processes on the sacrum?
medial crest
53
What is the name of the fused transverse processes on the sacrum?
lateral crest
54
What is the name of the gap in laminae on the sacrum?
sacral hiatus
55
What is the name of the former inferior articular processes of S5?
sacral cornua (horns)
56
What is the name of the surface that is a part of the sacroiliac joint?
auricular surface
57
What is the name of the rudimentary tailbone?
coccygeal (coccyx)
58
What is the name of the part of Co1, articulate with sacral horns?
coccygeal cornua (horns)
59
What are the 4 curvatures of the vertebral column?
Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacral
60
What is the shape of the cervical curvature?
anteriorly convex, secondary
61
What is the difference between primary and secondary curvatures of the vertebral column?
A primary curvature is present at birth, due to differences in anterior and posterior portions of vertebrae.
A secondary curvature primarily develops after birth, due to differences in anterior and posterior portions of intervertebral discs
62
What is the shape of the thoracic curvature?
anteriorly concave, primary
63
What is the shape of the lumbar curvature?
anteriorly convex, secondary
64
What is the shape of the sacral curvature?
anteriorly concave, primary
65
What are the movements of the vertebral column?
flexion/extension, lateral bending, and rotation
66
What are the movements of the vertebral column restricted by?
intervertebral discs, orientation of zygapophysial joints, articular capsules, muscles, and ligaments
67
What does the range of motion of the vertebral column primarily result from?
elasticity of intervertebral discs
68
What type of clinical condition is osteoporosis and osteoarthritis?
degenerative changes in vertebrae
69
What type of clinical condition is kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis?
abnormal curvatures
70
What type of joints are vertebral body joints?
secondary cartilaginous joints
71
vertebral body joints articulate via what kind of discs?
interposed intervertebral discs
72
What is kordosis?
too much curvature in the thorax (hunch back)
73
What is lordosis?
too much curvature in the lumbar
74
What is scoliosis?
sideways curvature of the spine
75
What is the outer portion of concentric fibrocartilaginous circles of intervertebral discs?
annulus fibrosus
76
What is the slightly posteriorly positioned gelatinous, elastic, avascular core of the intervertebral discs?
nucleus pulposus
77
What is the name of the joints between the uncinate processes of C3 - C6 and superjacent body?
uncovertebral joints
78
What are the synovial joints between superior and inferior articular processes?
vertebral arch joints (zygapophyses)
79
What allow gliding between vertebrae?
vertebral arch joints (zygapophyses)
80
What aspect of zygapophyses limits movement?
their variable orientation
81
What is the strong band extending across the anterolateral vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs?
anterior longitudinal ligament
82
What structure prevents hyperextension of vertebral column, stabilizing vertebral body joints?
anterior longitudinal ligament
83
What structure extends from sacrum to occiput and C1's anterior tubercle?
anterior longitudinal ligament
84
What is the anterior longitudinal ligament?
It is a strong band extending across anterolateral vertebral bodies and IV discs.
85
What does the anterior longitudinal ligament do?
It prevents hyperextension of vertebral column, stabilizing vertebral body joints.
86
Where does the anterior longitudinal ligament extend from and to?
It extends from sacrum to occiput and C1's anterior tubercle.
87
What is the weaker band extending along anterior aspect of vertebral canal?
posterior longitudinal ligament
88
What is the posterior longitudinal ligament?
the weaker band extending along anterior aspect of vertebral column
89
What does the posterior longitudinal ligament do?
It prevents hyperflexion of vertebral column
It prevents herniation/protrusion of discs
90
What structures stabilize laminae, transverse processes, and spinous processes?
accessory ligaments
91
What is the name of the accessory ligaments that are also known as the "yellow ligaments"
ligamenta flava
92
Which accessory ligaments connect adjacent laminae?
ligamenta flava
93
Which accessory ligaments are a broad, yellow fibrous tissue extending along posterior wall?
ligamenta flava
94
Which accessory ligaments prevent abrupt flexion of vertebral column, preventing injury to intervertebral discs?
ligamenta flava
95
Which accessory ligaments connect spinous processes?
interspinous ligaments
96
Name the 5 types of accessory ligaments
ligamenta flava, interspinous ligaments, supraspinous ligaments, nuchal ligament/ligamentum nuchae, inter-transverse ligaments
97
Which accessory ligaments connect tips of spinous processes, extending from C7 to the sacrum?
supraspinous ligaments
98
Which accessory ligaments merge with ligamentum nuchae?
supraspinous ligaments
99
Which accessory ligament extends from external occipital protuberance/posterior foramen magnum to spinous processes of cervical vertebrae?
nuchal ligament/ligamentum nuchae
100
Which accessory ligaments connect adjacent transverse processes?
inter-transverse ligaments
101
Which accessory ligaments are obvious in the thorax?
inter-transverse ligaments
102
Name the two types of craniovertebral joints
atlanto-occipital joint
| atlanto-axial joint
103
Which craniovertebral joint primarily allows nodding of the head (flexion/extension)?
atlanto-occipital joint
104
Which craniovertebral joint allows lateral bending and rotation?
atlanto-occipital joint
105
What is the name of the structures in the atlanto-occipital joint that extend from atlas to margins of foramen magnum?
atlantooccipital membranes
106
What is the name of the structures in the atlanto-occipital joint that allow lateral bending and rotation?
atlantooccipital membranes
107
What structure in the atlanto-occipital joint holds dens of C2 with arch of C1?
transverse ligament of atlas
108
In the atlanto-occipital joint, where is the transverse ligament of atlas located?
posterior wall of dens' socket
109
In the atlanto-occipital joint, what structures extend from transverse ligament to occiput and C2 body?
longitudinal bands
110
In the atlanto-occipital joint, together, the transverse ligament of atlas and the longitudinal bands are called what?
cruciate ligament
111
In the atlanto-occipital joint, what structures extend from sides of dens to C1 and foramen magnum?
alar ligaments
112
What is the function of the alar ligaments in the atlanto-occipital joint?
to limit head rotation
113
What ligaments limit head rotation in the atlanto-occipital joint?
alar ligaments
114
In the atlanto-occipital joint, what membrane extends from C2 and through foramen magnum?
tectorial membrane
115
In the atlanto-occipital joint, what structure is the superior continuation of the posterior longitudinal ligament?
tectorial membrane
116
What is the joint between the axis and atlas? (2 lateral, 1 median)
atlanto-axial joint
117
In which craniovertebral joint is movement primarily rotation?
atlanto-axial joint
118
In which craniovertebral joint do C1 and skull rotate on C2, limited by alar ligaments?
atlanto-axial joint
119
In the atlanto-axial joint, which joints are also known as the gliding joints?
C1/C2 zygapophysial joints
120
in the atlanto-axial joint, what is the name of the dens and C1 articulation?
pivot point
121
Herniations and protrusions of nucleus pulposus are clinical conditions of which vertebral infrastructure/s?
Joints and ligaments
122
Internal decapitation is a clinical condition of which vertebral infrastructure/s?
joints and ligaments
123
Spinal arteries and spinal veins are in which vertebral infrastructure?
Vasculature
124
What are the branches of the spinal arteries?
vertebral & ascending cervical artery
posterior intercostal arteries
subcostal &lumbar arteries
iliolumbar & lateral and medial sacral arteries
125
Which branch of the spinal arteries is located in the neck?
vertebral & ascending cervical artery
126
Which branch of the spinal arteries is located in the thorax?
posterior intercostal arteries
127
Which branch of the spinal arteries is located in the abdomen?
subcostal & lumbar arteries
128
Which branch of the spinal arteries is located in the pelvis?
iliolumbar & lateral and medial sacral arteries
129
Upon entering the intervertebral foramina, what do the spinal arteries divide into?
terminal radicular arteries supplying ventral and dorsal roots, and...
medullary segmental arteries, which anastomose with spinal cord's arteries.
130
The spinal veins are composed of what two plexuses?
internal venous plexus and external venous plexus
131
What exist for each of the two spinal vein venous plexuses?
anterior and posterior components
132
What are the three types of vertebral development?
Initial development, chondrification, ossification
133
What type of vertebral development involves sclerotomes, paired mesenchymal condensations around notochord?
Initial vertebral development
134
Describe what happens during initial vertebral development involving sclerotomes, paired mesenchymal condensations around notochord.
part moves cranially to form IV disc
part forms mesenchymal centrum/future vertebral body
the portion around the neural tube forms neural arch
mesenchymal cells in body wall form ribs
135
What happens during the part of initial vertebral development involving mesenchymal centrum/future vertebral body?
each centrum forms from 2 adjacent sclerotomes and becomes intersegmental
notochord degenerates where surrounded by vertebral bodies
notochord forms nucleus pulposus between vertebral bodies
136
What is the development of cartilaginous vertebral column called?
chondrification
137
Describe the several chondrification centers
2 fuse to form cartilaginous centrum
2 fuse to form neural arch, then arch fuses with body
138
What do the neural arch centers do?
They produce spinous and transverse processes.
139
What is ossification in vertebral development?
development of bony vertebral column
140
What kinds of ossification centers are there in the vertebral column?
primary ossification centers in each cartilaginous vertebra
secondary ossification centers
141
What do the primary ossification centers in the vertebral column form?
2 fuse to form centrum
2 form vertebral arch
142
What do the secondary ossification centers in the vertebral column form?
tip of spinous process (1 per vertebra)
tip of transverse process (2 per vertebra)
annular epiphyses, on superior and inferior rims of body (2 per vertebra)
143
What are the clinical conditions of vertebral development?
spina bifida
