vertebral column

Question 1

coccyx?

Answer 1

small triangular tail bone formed by fusion of the four coccygeal vertebrae

Question 2

what is the back?

Answer 2

• posterior aspect of the trunk, inferior to neck and superior to buttocks
• includes muscles, vertebral column, ribs and neuromuscular structures

Question 3

what is the vertebral column composed of?

Answer 3

vertebrae and intervertebral discs

Question 4

Is the vertebral column main part of the axial skeleton?

Answer 4

Yes

Question 5

functions of vertebral column?

Answer 5

• protect spinal cord and spinal nerves
• support weight of body
• aid in posture and movement

Question 6

what is the vertebrae, and what are the 5 regions?

Answer 6

• consists of 33 vertebrae arranged in 5 regions
• 7 cervical
• 12 thoracic
• 5 lumbar
• 5 sacral
• 4 coccygeal

Question 7

what are the parts of the vertebra?

Answer 7

• vertebral body
• vertebral arch (pedicle and laminae)

Question 8

7 processes of vertebra?

Answer 8

• 2 transverse process
• 1 spinous process
• 2 superior articular process
• 2 inferior articular process

Question 9

what is the vertebral body?

Answer 9

• anterior part of the bone and supports bw
• separated from above and below by intervertebral discs

Question 10

what is the vertebral arch?

Answer 10

• U-shaped and posterior to vertebral body
• has two main parts

Question 11

what is pedicles?

Answer 11

• project posteriorly from vertebral body
• form side of vertebral arch
• b/n transverse process and body

Question 12

what is laminae?

Answer 12

• form posterior part of vertebral arch
  b/n spinous process and transverse process

Question 13

what are spinous processes?

Answer 13

• project posteriorly from vertebral arch at junction of laminae
• attachment site for ligaments and muscles

Question 14

what are transverse processes?

Answer 14

• project from each side of the vertebral arch posterolaterally
• project at the junctions of the pedicles and laminae

Question 15

what are superior and inferior articular processes?

Answer 15

• arise from the junctions of the pedicles and laminae
• form zygapophysial (facet) joints

Question 16

what is vertebral foramen?

Answer 16

• bounded anteriorly by the vertebral body and laterally and posteriorly by vertebral arch
• forms the vertebral canal (spinal canal) which contains the spinal cord

Question 17

what is the intervertebral foramen?

Answer 17

• formed by superior and inferior vertebral notches
• vertebral notches are indentations observed superior and inferior to each pedicle
• spinal nerves emerge from the vertebral column through this foramen

Question 18

what are the cervical vertebrae?

Answer 18

• form skeleton of the neck
• located b/n cranium and thoracic vertebrae
• range and variety of movement of all vertebral regions

Question 19

what are the cervical vertebrae features?

Answer 19

• small bodies
• large vertebral foramen
• transverse foramina
• bifid spinous process
• c1-c7

Question 20

what is c1/atlas

Answer 20

• lacks body and spinous process
• ring-shaped
• has anterior and posterior arches separated by two lateral masses
• articulate with occipital condyles to form atlanto-occipital joint
• has inferior articular fovea for axis to form lateral atlanto axial joint
• anterior arch of atlas articulates with dens of axis - median atlanto axial joint

Question 21

what is c2/axis

Answer 21

• has blunt tooth-like dens/odontoid process, which projects superiorly from body
• held in place by transverse ligament of atlas

Question 22

what is c7/seventh cervical vertebra

Answer 22

• small transverse foramen that transmits vertebral vein
• has long or prominenet unbifid spinous process and its called vertebra prominence, used to count vertebrae

Question 23

what is thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 23

• lie in upper back
• articulate with ribs / costal facets
• limited range of motion

Question 24

what are the features of thoracic vertebra?

Answer 24

• vertebral bodies are heart shaped
• has circular vertebral foramen
• articular processes are more or less vertical/frontal plane
• spinous processes are long and curved down wards
• transverse process bear costal facets for articulation with ribs

Question 25

where is costal facets located on thoracic vertebra?

Answer 25

- contain costal facets on their bodies for articulation with the heads of ribs

Question 26

what is lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 26

- located in lower back - largest of all movable vertebrae - articular processes extend vertically, with articular facets oriented sagittally

Question 27

what are the features of lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 27

- vertebral body is large and kidney shaped - vertebral foramen is triangular - spinous process is thick and horizontal - articular facets face medial/lateral - long blunt transverse processes

Question 28

what is sacrum?

Answer 28

- large triangular wedged-shaped - formed by fusion of five sacral vertebrae - located between hip bones - transmits weight of body to pelvic girdle

Question 29

features of sacrum?

Answer 29

- has base (formed by s1) and apex (articulates with coccyx) - laterally articulates with ileum and forms sacroiliac joint - has concave ventral pelvic surface and dorsal surface which is rough and convex

Question 30

what are the five crests of sacrum?

Answer 30

- median sacral crest, formed by fused spinous processes - intermediate sacral crest, formed by fused articular processes - lateral sacral crest, formed by fused transverse processes

Question 31

what does the transverse lines of sacrum do?

Answer 31

- four transverse lines on this surface indicate where fusion of sacral vertebrae occurred

Question 32

does the vertebral canal continue as sacral canal in sacrum?

Answer 32

yes

Question 33

sacral hiatus of sacrum?

Answer 33

- on dorsal surface of sacrum, there is inverted U-shaped sacral hiatus - sacral hiatus into sacral canal