Vertebral Column

Question 1

how many individual vertebrae (bones) is the vertebral column comprised of?

Answer 1

33

Question 2

During development, some of the bones of the vertebral column fuse, resulting in ___ individual bony segments

Answer 2

26

Question 3

how many cervical (neck) vertebrae are there?

Answer 3

7

Question 4

how many thoracic (upper back) vertebrae are there?

Answer 4

12

Question 5

How many lumbar (lower back) vertebrae are there?

Answer 5

5

Question 6

how many sacral (buttocks) vertebrae are there?

Answer 6

5 fused

Question 7

how many coccygeal (pelvic floor) vertebrae are there?

Answer 7

4 fused

Question 8

What are the 3 functions of the vertebral column?

Answer 8

1) support/upright posture
2) protection
3) movement

Question 9

what are the 2 projections from the posterior body of each vertebrae called

Answer 9

pedicles

Question 10

what is the anterior, weight bearing part of each vertebrae called?

Answer 10

vertebral body

Question 11

the 2 flat bars which meet posteriorly at the spinous process of each vertebrae are called?

Answer 11

laminae

Question 12

the circle on vertebrae created by the laminae, pedicles and body

Answer 12

Vertebral foramen

Question 13

the _______ is created by the vertebral foramen, and houses the spinal cord

Answer 13

vertebral canal

Question 14

what is the posterior projection on each vertebrae called

Answer 14

spinous process

Question 15

each vertebrae has one of these projections on each side

Answer 15

transverse process

Question 16

what is the superior projection on a vertebrae called? the inferior projection?

Answer 16

superior = superior articular processes 
inferior = inferior articular processes

Question 17

_______ is created by the articulation of adjacent vertebrae

Answer 17

intervertebral foramen

Question 18

True or false: Cervical vertebrae have small bodies because they bear less weight

Answer 18

true

Question 19

what is the shape of the foramen of cervical vertebrae?

Answer 19

triangular

Question 20

what is different about the spinous processes of cervical vertebrae

Answer 20

they are bifid spinous processes (other than prominens)

Question 21

________ houses the vertebral arteries that provide to the brain

Answer 21

transverse foramina

Question 22

What is another name for C1?

Answer 22

Atlas

Question 23

What is the primary role of Atlas?

Answer 23

to support the head

Question 24

true or false: C1 has no body

Answer 24

true (simply a ring of bone)

Question 25

the superior articular facets of Atlas articulate with what?

Answer 25

Occipital condyles

Question 26

What is another name for C2

Answer 26

Axis

Question 27

What is the most defining feature on Axis?

Answer 27

Dens (odontoid process)

Question 28

what is the purpose of the dens on C2?

Answer 28

to create a pivot about which Atlas rotates

Question 29

What is another name for C7

Answer 29

Prominens

Question 30

Is prominens spinous process bifid?

Answer 30

no

Question 31

what is different about the spinous process of bifid?

Answer 31

it has a tubercle on the end

Question 32

the spinous processes of which segment of the vertebral column have long, overlapping spinous processes?

Answer 32

thoracic segment

Question 33

thoracic vertebrae have what on the sides of their bodies?

Answer 33

superior and inferior demifacets

Question 34

what is on the transverse processes of thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 34

costal facets

Question 35

what is different about the articular facets in the thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 35

oriented in frontal plane

Question 36

what is the thoracic cavity characterized for?

Answer 36

articulation with the ribs

Question 37

which of the vertebral segments have large and heavy vertebral bodies?

Answer 37

lumbar

Question 38

Lumbar vertebrae have ______ (shape) spinous processes projecting straight back

Answer 38

square

Question 39

what is different about the articular processes in the lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 39

they curve to hold articulating surfaces in place - "grasping" articular processes

Question 40

The sacrum in _____ shaped

Answer 40

triangularly

Question 41

the base of the sacrum has a ____ degree slope upon which the disc of the 5th lumbar vertebrae is situated

Answer 41

30 degree

Question 42

the _______ of the sacrum is analogous to spinous processes

Answer 42

median sacral crest

Question 43

what are the anterior and posterior sacral foramina analogous to?

Answer 43

intervertebral foramina

Question 44

the sacral canal is analogous to what?

Answer 44

vertebral canal

Question 45

another name for the coccyx is what?

Answer 45

vestigial tail

Question 46

which regions of the vertebral column have the most range of motion?

Answer 46

cervical and lumbar

Question 47

why is the ROM of thoracic region limited?

Answer 47

due to rib attachment

Question 48

what 3 things do vertebral curves do for us?

Answer 48

1) increase weight bearing ability 2) increase flexibility 3) allow for upright posture

Question 49

at birth the vertebral column is ______ (convex/concave) posteriorly with thoracic and sacral curves present

Answer 49

convex

Question 50

what are the 2 primary curve

Answer 50

thoracic and sacral curves

Question 51

what are the secondary curves. why are they secondary?

Answer 51

cervical and lumbar - because they develop after birth

Question 52

when does the cervical curve develop

Answer 52

3 months

Question 53

when does the lumbar curve develop?

Answer 53

1 year +

Question 54

what are the 3 postural deviation

Answer 54

1) lumbar lordosis 2) kyphosis 3) scoliosis

Question 55

lumbar lordosis

Answer 55

- increased curve in lumbar vertebrae | - happens because of disease, muscular imbalance or pregnancy

Question 56

kyphosis

Answer 56

- increased curvature of thoracic vertebrae | - happens because of osteoporosis, weak musculature or rounded shoulders

Question 57

scoliosis

Answer 57

- lateral curvature of vertebral column | - C curve or S curve