Vertebral Column Flashcards
1
Q
Central bony pillar of the body; 72 to 75 cm in length (1/4 is formed by the IV discs)
A
Vertebral column
2
Q
Functions of vertebral column
A
Support
Protection
Locomotion
3
Q
Regions of vertebral column
A
Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacral Coccygeal
4
Q
No. of vertebrae in: cervical
A
7
5
Q
No. of vertebrae in: thoracic
A
12
6
Q
No. of vertebrae in: lumbar
A
5
7
Q
No. of vertebrae in: sacral
A
5 (fused)
8
Q
No. of vertebrae in: coccygeal
A
4 (lower three fused)
9
Q
Parts of vertebra
A
Body
Vertebral arch
Seven processes
10
Q
Anterior part of the vertebra
A
Body
11
Q
Posterior to the vertebral body and enclosed the vertebral foramen
A
Vertebral arch
12
Q
Gives rise to 7 processes
A
Vertebral arch
13
Q
2 parts of vertebral arch
A
Pedicles and laminae
14
Q
attached to the vertebral body forming the sides of the arch
A
Pedicles
15
Q
- flattened
- attached to the pedicle
- completing the arch posteriorly
A
Laminae
16
Q
Where the spinal cord and its coverings run though
A
Vertebral foramen
17
Q
Contains the spinal cord and the roots of the spinal nerves, along with the meninges, fat, and vessels that surround and serve them
A
Vertebral canal
18
Q
Formed by the succession of vertebral foramina in the articulated vertebral column
A
Vertebral canal
19
Q
Notch on the upper and lower border of the pedicles that are formed by the projection of the body (anteriorly) and the articulating processes (posteriorly)
A
Vertebral notch
20
Q
The superior notch of one vertebra + inferior notch of an adjacent vertebra = ?
A
intervertebral foramina
21
Q
Serve to transmit spinal nerves and blood vessels and Where anterior and posterior nerve roots of a spinal nerve unite to form the segmental spinal nerves
A
intervertebral foramina
22
Q
Types of processes
A
Spinous process
Transverse process
Articular process
23
Q
Process:
- Median
- Projects posteriorly from the vertebral arch at the junction of the laminae
A
Spinous process
24
Q
Number of spinous process
A
1
25
Process: Directed laterally from the junction of the pedicles and laminae
Transverse process
26
Number of transverse process
2
27
T or F: Both spinous and transverse processes serve as levers and attachments of muscles and ligaments, facilitating the muscles that fix or change the position of the vertebrae
T
28
Process:
- Vertically arranged
- Consist of 2 superior and 2 inferior processes
- Arise from the junction of the laminae and the pedicles
Articular process
29
Number of articular process
4
30
Articular surfaces are covered with _______
hyaline cartilage
31
Assist in keeping adjacent vertebrae aligned, preventing one vertebra from slipping anteriorly
Articular processes
32
Typical cervical vertebrae
C3-C6
33
Vertebrae from the skeleton of the neck
Cervical vertebrae
34
T or F: the vertebral artery passes through the transverse processes of C1 to C7.
F, C1 to C6, not C7
35
Atypical cervical vertebra
C1, C2, C7
36
– atlas
- Body: no body
- Vertebral arch: has an anterior and posterior arch – ring-shaped bone
C1
37
– axis
- Has a peg-like odontoid process (dens) that projects from the superior surface of the body
- The dens represents the body of the atlas that has fused with the body of the axis
C2
38
Called the vertebra prominens because its prominent – palpable at the back of the neck
C7
39
For articulation with the ribs
Found in transverse process – for articulation with tubercle of rib
Found in vertebral body – on the sides, for articulation with head of rib
costal facets
40
- In the upper back and provide attachment for the ribs
| - Body: medium-sized, and heart-shaped
Thoracic vertebra
41
In the lower back, between the thorax and the sacrum
| - Body: massive (because of the weight they support), and kidney-shaped
Lumbar vertebra
42
Largest lumbar vertebra
L5
43
anterior projection of the upper margin of S1; posterior margin of the pelvic inlet; signals the beginning of the rectum, also used in measuring the size of the pelvis in females
Sacral promontory
44
formed by the vertebral foramina, extension of the vertebral canal
- contains the anterior and posterior roots of the sacral and coccygeal spinal nerves, filum terminale, and fibrofatty material
- also contains the lower part of the subarachnoid space down as far as the lower border of S2
Sacral canal
45
Consists of five rudimentary vertebrae fused together to form a wedge-shaped bone; Concave anteriorly
Sacrum
46
The sacral vertebra contains how many foramina on each side?
4
47
Longitudinal ridges of the sacral vertebra
Median sacral crest
Intermediate sacral crest
Lateral sacral crest
48
the laminae of S5 (and sometimes S4) fail to meet in the midline forming a space/ hiatus
Sacral hiatus
49
Consists of four vertebrae fused together to form a single, small, triangular bone
Coccyx
50
T or F: Only thoracic and sacral curvature remain kyphotic throughout life – these are the primary curves
T
51
Curvature that develop during fetal development
Primary curvature
52
The angles or the curvature form during fetal period but become prominent after infancy
Secondary curvature
53
2 primary ligaments of the vertebral column
Anterior longitudinal ligament
| Posterior longitudinal ligament
54
Fibrous band that covers and connects the anterolateral aspects of the vertebral bodies and iv discs
Anterior longitudinal ligament
55
Prevents hyperextension of the vertebral column; Found outside of the vertebral canal
Anterior longitudinal ligament
56
Weak and narrow, attached to the posterior border of the discs; Runs within the vertebral canal along the posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies
Posterior longitudinal ligament
57
Upward continuation of PLL at level of atlantoaxial joint
Tectorial membrane
58
Prevents hyperflexion of vertebral column; Helps prevent or redirect posterior herniation of nucleus pulposus
Posterior longitudinal ligament
59
Accessory ligaments
```
Ligamentum flavum
Interspinous ligaments
Supraspinous ligament
Ligamemtum nuchae
Intratransverse ligaments
```
60
in the cervical region, the supraspinous and interspinous ligaments are greatly thickened to form the strong __________
ligamemtum nuchae
61
Ligament: Elastic tissue that joins together laminae of adjacent vertebral arches
Ligamemtum flavum
62
Ligament: Connects adjoining spinous processes (attaching from the root to the apex of each process)
Interspinous ligament
63
Ligament: Cord-like band that connects the tips of the spinous processeses from C7 to the sacrum
Supraspinous ligament
64
Ligament: Strong and broad; thickened fibroelastic tissue that extends from the spine of C7 to the external occipital protuberance of the skull, with its anterior border being strongly attached to the cervical spines in between
Ligament nuchae
65
Ligament: Connects one transverse process to another
Intratransverse ligament
66
Main structures that bind together the vertebral bodies
Intervertebral disc
67
Responsible for ¼ (20-25%) the length of the vertebral column
Intervertebral disc
68
Number of invertebral discs
23
69
Serve as shock absorbers when the load on the vertebral column is suddenly increased (e.g. when jumping from a height); Elasticity allows the rigid vertebrae to move one on the other (resilience is lost gradually with age)
Intervertebral discs
70
Parts of intervertebral disc
Annulus fibrosus
| Nucleus pulposus
71
Peripheral part of the intervertebral disc and is composed of fibrocartilage.
Annulus fibrosus
72
Central part of the invertebral disc and contains an ovoid mass of gelatinous material containing a large amount of water, small amount of collagen fibers, and a few cartilage cells in children and adolescents
Nucleus pulposus
73
Joints of the vertebral column
Atlanto-occipital joint
| Atlanto-axial joint
74
Type of joint: atlanto-occipital joint
Synovial: condyloid
75
Type of joint: atlanto-axial
Synovial: Pivot
76
atlanto-occipital joint movements
Flexion, extensions, lateral flexion, NO ROTATION possible
77
atlanto-occipital joint articulations
occipital condyles of the skull (superior) + superior surfaces of the lateral masses of the atlas (inferior)
78
Ligaments of the atlanto-occipital joint
anterior and posterior atlanto-occipital membrane
79
Connects anterior arch of atlas to the anterior margin of the foramen magnum
Anterior atlanto-occipital membrane
80
Connects posterior arch of atlas to the posterior margin of the foramen magnum
posterior atlanto-occipital membrane
81
Atlantoaxial joint articulation
odontoid process + anterior arch of the atlas (1 joint)
| lateral masses of the bones (2 joints)
82
Atlantoaxial joint movement
Extensive rotation of atlas
83
Ligaments of atlantoaxial joint
Apical
Alar
Cruciate
Membrana tectoria
84
Connects the apex of the odontoid process to the anterior margin of the foramen magnum
Apical ligament
85
Connects the odontoid process to the medial sides of the occipital condyles
Alar ligament
86
attached one on each side of the inner aspect of the lateral mass of the atlas
- binds to the odontoid process to the anterior arch of the atlas
Transverse ligament
87
Covers the posterior surface of the odontoid process and the apical, alar, and crucial ligaments
Membrana tectoria
88
Procedure done at the level of L4 to:
- Withdraw a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for examination
- For clinical diagnosis
- Introduce drugs
- Remove excess CSF
Lumbar tap
89
Structures traversed by spinal needle
1. Skin
2. Superficial fascia
3. Supraspinous ligament
4. Interspinous ligament
5. Ligamentum flavum
6. Areolar tissue (containing internal vertebral venous plexus in epidural space)
7. Dura mater
8. Arachnoid mater
9. Subarachnoid space
90
Why is the lumbar tap at the level of L4?
at lower lumbar part of vertebral canal the subarachnoid space only contains the cauda equine a needle introduced at this level usually just pushes the nerve roots to the side without causing damage
91
Clinical condition:
- Spinous process, laminae, and inferior articular process separate from the body pedicles and the superior articular process
- Common in adolescent athletes
Spondylosis
92
Clinical condition:
- Body of a lower lumbar vertebra (usually L5), moves forward on the body of the vertebra below and carries with it the whole of the upper portion of the vertebral column
Spondylolisthesis
93
Clinical condition:
| Pedicles are abnormally formed and accessory centers of ossification are present and fail to unite
Congenital spondylolisthesis
94
Clinical condition:
- Common in elderly
- Involves degeneration of the IV discs in the lumbar region and osteoarthritis of the intervertebral joints
Degenerative spondylolisthesis
95
Protusion of nucleus pulposus; Disc most commonly affected are those in areas where a mobile part of the column joins a relatively mobile part
HERNIATION OF INTERVERTEBRAL DISC
